June 05, 2021 at 09:13PM

Thank you very much for all the comments you have made to my previous question (post). I am learning a lot, and appreciate your view. I am sorry that I cannot reply all, but I read them all. Here is supplemental information.

I am NOT saying all the teachers who teach a topic related to Japanese culture have to be fluent in Japanese. The point is, “Are they sure what they teach is valid? Isn’t it filtered by someone who benefits from the modification?”. Without the language ability, it can be difficult to “confirm” the validity because the resource will be limited.

The same goes to me. How do you know what I teach is “real”? Being Japanese itself will not validate anything that I teach in Sashiko. How do they know I am “valid”? Therefore, I share as many stories as possible (stories require experience). Therefore, I share my “real-time” stitching so no faking the stitches. Therefore, I ask my Japanese friends to check what I say periodically (mainly in Live). I know I am sharing “my truth” – but I would like to make sure that I do not minimize the other Sashiko artisans in Japan. 

When we can trust the resource, then language isn’t the priority. For example, if you have a Japanese parent, and they force you to follow some Japanese culture (I am sorry for that), then your understanding of Japanese culture is sufficient even without language. 

Today, The Internet can offer you various valid answers – we can choose the answer from both extremes. We can modify the answer based on our preference. Therefore, my question arises. I believe (hope) most of the information available is valid (not Wrong). However, when one teaches the Sashiko as “a whole”, then how do they validate they are teaching the whole practice without the language ability? Teaching comes with responsibility, especially when the teacher focuses on specific cultural topics associated with names.

久々長文です。どっかで一人語り配信します。

#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko


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