May 20, 2021 at 03:39PM

In some fields, the “age” limits one’s possibility. For example, no matter how hard I wish, I won’t be a professional soccer player at my age. In another field, anyone “can” be a professional regardless of the age, but it requires an unbelievable amount of time to practice – like a pianist. Just watching the pianist playing the piano on Youtube won’t make one a pianist. In other fields, one may not need that much time to be professional, like Sashiko. A few years with good guidance can make one “professional” level. I have seen them to be as good as the professionals. Crafting (on the table with hands moving) can be “taught” pretty easily in comparison to other fields. One doesn’t need that much time to be good at (in comparison). However, it doesn’t mean that the culture is shallow. There is a place where only those who spend so much time can reach – it is just a place where we cannot explain with words. Therefore, it is very important to ask the practitioners to know who they are learning from. Does your teacher know the “place”? Or at least, does the teacher know the people who have reached the place? Sashiko is easy. Anyone can enjoy it. By just copying what to do, anyone can make a similar thing – and I recommend copying it by watching our Youtube. However, please know there are more than that before teaching. Otherwise, the culture will be oversimplified by someone outside of the culture. It is so sad and I need to speak up to prevent it.

昨日、少し没頭して刺し子をした為、寝不足です。語りたいことも沢山。どこかで配信をしようかなと思っています。「刺し子の部屋」も再開したいし、本当、やりたいことだらけ。それでも一つずつ形にできているのは、応援して下さる皆様のおかげです。本当にありがとうございます。(英語での文章とは全く関係ない日本語の文章です。英語の投稿はあまり日本人には当てはまらないと判断したので)。

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May 19, 2021 at 11:56AM

The more I share about the Sashiko Story, the more I realize I have a lot more to offer. 20 hours of talking about Sashiko while stitching in FL. I worried if I would run out of topics to talk about. In reality, I feel I could have shared more (which I am glad I didn’t because I would have overwhelmed the participants). So, in order to share the whole picture, not only the essence but also the stories around, I would need more than 3 days. Or I would need to ask them to keep reading what I have been sharing here and there.

In 2022, for the first time, I will join a tour to Japan focusing on Sashiko & Boro. My role is to share the Sashiko we have been practicing & apply it to Boro and other Sashiko. In this time, I will have 7~10 days to share what Sashiko is for us. In numbers of meals, after meals, in transit, before going to bed-room, in the official workshops, I will be there sharing stories & answering to your questions with almost no limitation. The Tour is planned from May 8th to 19th in 2022 (Price: $5,999 per person, single occupancy). If you are interested, please DM so that I can navigate you to register for your seat. I am so excited to this journey to share the Sashiko we practice in Sashiko where I have received it. 

20時間の刺し子と襤褸の時間。3時間の講演も質疑応答もこなせるし、24時間刺し子しながら話し続けることも日本語ではできたのですが、20時間英語で刺し子について教え語り続けられるか一抹の不安があった3日間のワークショップでした。結果は、「話せば話すほど、時間が足りなくなる感覚」を味わった素敵な20時間でした。伊達に信じられないほどの時間を刺し子の環境で過ごして、且つそれから脱却しようと必死に考え続けていないようで。話す内容はどれだけでも続きます。それが一方的ではなく会話であればなおさら。

2022年の5月に、そんな刺し子を詰め込んだ日本ツアーを行います。全日程英語なのですが、もし英語圏の方で刺し子に興味がある方がいらっしゃったらご紹介頂けると嬉しいです。刺し子と襤褸だけ……という僕が企画したハードコアなツアーではなく、刺し子を中心として観光も楽しんで頂けるツアーになっています。楽しみだなぁ。

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May 18, 2021 at 01:17PM

In 2017, when I first received an offer to teach Sashiko, I wasn’t sure what to teach. I thought all of what I could do was “normal” for many people. After teaching Sashiko for 4 years, I realize I have received a pile of treasure – a lot to share. More than the amount that I could keep sharing for 3 days, yet the students were a bit overwhelmed by the amount.

For me 30+ years of listening to the stories, stitching (reluctantly), and watching top artisans. For Keiko, 40 years of enjoying Sashiko. I “can” offer “quick techniques”, but when one asks for “quickness”, they won’t get the core of what we do. What we do (Sashiko) cannot be summarized into a class or a book. If you do not understand Japanese as Language, please be careful when you assert a phrase in Sashiko / Boro. Sashiko may not be “Little Stabs”. Therefore, I keep sharing the stories. Boro isn’t only about visible mending, and Sashiko is more than just stitching. Anyone can enjoy Sashiko – but when it comes to “teaching”, understanding the Japanese culture becomes very fundamental to avoid unnecessary twists & filtering in culture. I do not want anyone to destroy the culture we cherish.

僕の妻はユダヤ人です。大切な(義理の)家族は、イスラエルに住んでいます。日々のニュースで心を痛めていて、なんともできない無力感に苛まれています。政治的な話をするアカウントではないので深くは切り込みませんが、争いは一度始まってしまうと、「答え」を出すまでなかなか終わりません。争うのには理由があり、また理由がある限り争いは続きます。日本文化は……200年の争いなき江戸時代を通して、「争う理由を作らない」文化が形成されているように思うのです。現代ではそれが「優柔不断」だとか「スピードが遅い」という弊害が目立ってしまいますが、少なくとも刺し子において「これが刺し子で、それ以外は刺し子じゃない」という表面だった争いは僕は知りません。西洋の文化が入ることで懸念している一つが、この「争う理由を求められること」です。「違うならなんで正解を出さないの?」と突っ込まれる。なんとなく違いを受け入れる日本人は、「確かにそうだ」となってしまうかもしれない。悪い一例が明治維新後の軍国主義化だったと思っています。刺し子には「絶対的な答えがない」ままで居てほしいんです。

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May 17, 2021 at 01:06PM

Believe it or not, I had been trying to be someone else. For example, I once tried to be an “IT programmer” for the job-security. I have a few friends who are very successful in the IT field. They advised me: “Do you like it? You may be competing with those who enjoy programming more than anything”. Well, I like working on a PC, but not programming itself. The one who keeps practicing what they like will reach to somewhere.

If I do not have to worry about anything myself, I can stitch 24/7. Many may find it so boring to just stitch for 24 hours, but I enjoy it. Since I said it outloud, I did 24-hours live streaming to prove that one can stitch for 24 hours without any pain when they have proper position. I have probably done more than 1 million stitches. Some of our artisans may reach 100 million stitches. At this point, numbers aren’t so important. However, numbers only bring one to the state of understanding then. I am not saying one has to be the master to enjoy Sashiko. I am saying “quick answer” will not bring them the essence much, especially in hand-crafting. I want you to taste the homemade pizza on your tongue, instead of watching it on TV and feeling you have tasted it. 

 好きこそものの上手なれ。真実だなぁと思うのです。好きで刺し子をしている人の針目は、やっぱり魅力的です。もちろん、職人気質的な針目も素敵なのですが、やっぱり僕の好みは、針目そのものに刺し子好きな感じが現れる刺し子です。どちらにせよ、やっぱり刺している人の針目が一番。当たり前?刺し子が流行になると、刺さないまま刺し子が好きという人は増えてきます。それが悪いわけではなく、刺さないまま刺し子を”教える”ようになると、少し歪んでしまうなぁという懸念です。僕自身への自戒の念も込めて。

刺し子は誰でもできます。誰でも上達します。だからこそ、好きで刺し子をしてほしいなぁと思うんです。フォロワーさんが増えて、様々なやり取りが増えてきました。それでもやっぱり最後は、刺し子好きな人を応援したい、一緒に何かしたいという思いなんですよよね。

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May 16, 2021 at 04:38PM

I try to be as “difficult” as possible on social media to share the boundaries. I enjoy “Casual Friendliness”, but a DM saying “Hey, I like your work. Tell me how I can do it” is outside of my comfortable boundaries. However, in-person, it is not my intention to be difficult. As a base-line,  I would like to know who I am talking to. (Since I have a very specific preference, some may find me difficult… but that’s another story).

I started an Online Sashiko Class for those who couldn’t meet me in person. In Covid-19, I invested a lot to make it better & easier to learn. I offer online classes because it is challenging to meet them in person. On this visit to FL, one of my Online Sashiko Class students made a visit to me, and we could finally meet in person. It was delightful. She knows me well through what I have shared. I know her well through her Sashiko. I didn’t feel it was the first time to meet at all. This is one of my goals – “pass down the Sashiko”. It doesn’t have to be my family to pass down. It is my friends who understand my messages – that Sashiko is more than a trend & stitching. It is just a delightful pleasure to meet new friends.

常日頃「刺し子を(後世)に残したい」などと言っておりますが、後世に残すこととは形式張ったことではありません。僕の思いや、僕に声をかけてくれる日本人の方々の思いを、伝え、そしえ理解してもらうことです。そういう友達を増やしていくことが、結果として、刺し子を残すことになると思っています。それ以上でも、それ以下でもなく、純粋に伝え作り続けること。

対面で会うことが難しい日々。オンラインが中心になってしまっているのですが、今回のフロリダで、オンラインクラスを受講して下さった方にお会いできる機会がありました。刺し子を学び、そして刺し子をご自身のアートに組み込んでいらっしゃる方です。友達です。初対面とは思えないほど、楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。日本の皆様にもいつか会える日を心より楽しみにしています。

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May 15, 2021 at 04:22PM

The feedback, “It is fortunate to take your class”, is the best reward I can get in the workshop. I teach stitching, but I ask not to stitch. I teach how to speed up their stitching, but I ask them to slow down. One result of Sashiko is being mindful, but I ask “not” to be mindful (I am neither asking them to be uncareful). It may sound like a Zen Dialogue, but it is in fact very practical teaching. Once we practice it, this nonsense dialogue starts having the meaning. I find it interesting & it is an honor to be able to share that.

The first day, the first hour, when they see my demonstration, the reaction is “What the…” and I see their worrisome & confused faces. The 3rd day, I could see their faces with, “yes, I can do it now”. In the Online Class I offer, the moment happens in Live Session (where I meet). The Sashiko I share may be a bit different from others. However, since it is all comprehensive in my life, all of the steps have “meaning” and “stories”. If you want to have even stitches, try not to make even stitches. Please learn from us if you would like to know what it means & how you get there. I really appreciate the new Sashik friends who came over to FL to learn from me. See you soon!

16ヶ月ぶりのワークショップ。無事完遂することができました。ほんとに疲れた……。生徒さんも最終日疲れが見えるほどの内容量。でも、やっぱり楽しかったです。デザインではなく運針が先。運針の速さを上げる為に会えて一度遅く針を進める。この禅問答のようなワークショップは、最初は微妙な拒否反応があるのですが、時間を重ねるごとに理解が深まり笑顔が出るようになり、最後は笑って締めくくれるようになりました。経験……ですね。毎回のワークショップに真剣に立ち向かうことで、少しずつですが上達できているような気がします。次回までは間が空きます。しっかり準備しようと思います。

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May 14, 2021 at 10:03PM

It is pretty funny to understand what kind of person I am. As much as I teach “NOT TO BE” perfectionist in Sashiko, I am the perfectionist. Everything I do as “work (professional work with payment)” has to be well-prepared & organized. I knew it from previous workshops… but I cannot eat during the workshop – to be fully alert & paying attention to even a small facial expression change.

Sashiko is very easy – however, it isn’t simple. Everyone has a different learning curve in the theme of “No Right and Wrong”. This 3 days workshop added great experience to my profession – like the jacket with extra Indigo thread in between. I hope to come back to FL again!

前から分かっていたことなのですが、お金を頂くお仕事においては、常に完璧を求めてしまうようで。これも前から分かっていたのですが、ワークショップ中は食べ物を口にしたら駄目なようで。後半はずーっと空腹の状態を保ってました(その分、夜にどか食いするので一層太るのですが……)。

ワークショップというのもの奥深いもので、バランスがとても大切です。詰め込みすぎても駄目で、とはいえ「物足りない」のはもっと良くない。そのバランスは経験でしか会得できず、またその開催する際の方々の性格にもよってかわってきます。こうやって呼んで頂いて、経験を積ませて頂けることは本当にありがたいことだなと思うのですよ。日々精進です。

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May 13, 2021 at 09:20PM

I am in FL for 3-days long Sashiko workshop – and it is my first time to offer the 3-days long. Once I thought 3 days may be too long to “fulfill”. However, after completing the 2nd day, I realize I have enough messages to share for 3 days. I have lost a lot in Covid-19, but the year of writing every single day gave me time & challenge to verbalize what I would like to share. Everything is the same. I would need only 6 hours to teach the essence & core of Sashiko – however, in order to “talk through everything on top of technique”, I really appreciate this opportunity (I am pretty much repeating everything I share on SNS & Youtube, but it is good to feel the real-time feedback & laugh).

A matter has a different look by changing the angle or the side in how to look. Sashiko can be an Art, but not-Art at the same time. In order to stitch fast, one has to slow down first. It sounds philosophical, but in reality, it is very practical & I am here to share. I will try to enrich the Online Class Contents more for this summer. I have a lot to share. I can say with confidence more. Please learn Sashiko from us.

3日間のワークショップ、最初にお話を頂いたときは「長すぎるかな。どうやって時間を持たせようかなぁ」と不安になったのですが、いざ準備して、いざ本番を迎えてみると、3日間丸々ずーっと話し続けることができるだけの引き出しは、これまでの活動で積み重ねられているようで、とても充実した日々を過ごしています。充実しすぎて写真撮れてないけど。

完結に答えを出すだけであれば、そんなに時間は必要ありません。排他的な教え方をすればいい。ただ、今ある刺し子すべてを包括的に認めながら、且つ「コアになるもの」を丁寧にお伝えする為にはある程度の時間は必要なんだと思うようになりました。普段SNSで書いていること&配信で話していることと一緒です。ただ、やっぱり聞いてくれる人の反応を見られるのは嬉しいですよね。明日最終日。出せるものをすべて出してこようと思います。

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May 12, 2021 at 08:05PM

If I were to have 3 days to share Sashiko – and how to apply Sashiko to their project, I thought I would have more time to take photos in the workshop. The answer is, nah… I realize I don’t have any photos from the workshop after the workshop. I will take some photos tomorrow with someone who may volunteer to be in the photo, but here is the Jacket I brought to the ocean – with sharing some photos of the beach in FL.

3日間。額面では18時間。でも実質は21時間超えのワークショップだったら、少しは写真を取る余裕もあるだろう……と思っていたのですが、甘かったです。一枚も撮ってないことにワークショップが終わってから気がつく。明日以降は応用編……というか、刺し子そのものというよりは、刺し子を使って何をするかというワークショップになるので、少しは時間ができるかなと思っています。信じられないくらい疲れているので、今晩は早々におやすみします!

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May 11, 2021 at 07:12PM

Again… I couldn’t take photos of the beautiful studio that I will be offering the workshop. I get too serious when it comes to “before” the workshop. Well, since this is my first-time 3 days long workshop, I will have a bit more free time to take photos around (I usually offer a 1-day 6~8 hours workshop). I hope I can take more photos of this beautiful Hitomezashi Jacket as well. It is Indigo, imagining the blue ocean, and the studio is “Dyeing Studio” with lots of Indigo.

やっぱりワークショップの準備の段階では写真を撮る余裕などはありませんでした。任せられた責任が果たせるまでは、やっぱりどうしても写真を撮ってる場合じゃないって思っちゃうんでしょうね。今回は丸々3日間ものワークショップなので、少しは写真を撮る余裕ができればいいなと思っています。海の青と藍の青。両方の青をイメージした一目刺しジャケットの

デビュー日です。

#Sashiko #Hitomezashi #SashikoJacket #Noragi #JapaneseSashiko #HitomezashiJacket #刺し子 #一目刺し


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