Some criticize me for playing the victim (crying for attention). Umm. “I don’t know” is my honest reaction. I had always been “privileged” in my life. It is my first time to “speak up” as a minority. I need to learn what is the line between “speaking up” and “playing the victim”.
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Being a man in Japanese society is a huge “privilege”. It is unfortunate, but Japan is a Male-dominated society. We even have a word for that. So, I am privileged. My mother is not privileged for this matter. Also, being a Japanese itself is a privilege in comparison to the other minority groups in Japan. I cannot talk on behalf of the minorities because I haven’t experienced their pain. However, now, I acknowledge it, and learn how to imagine their pain. I never will minimize their voice.
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It is uncomfortable to listen to someone saying “You are privileged”. I didn’t choose to be a man. It is not me who wanted to be “privileged”. However, I do benefit by being privileged. Therefore, I learn to listen – and more importantly – “imagine (the pain)” instead of saying “it is what it is”.
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In Sashiko, unfortunately, the information available in English is not enough (not wrong). The discussions on “Sashiko/Boro” are filtered – both questions & answers – by many trying to share their “definition” on Sashiko & Boro that they learned from the 2nd source. Unlike Zen introduced by legend “D. T. Suzuki” who wrote (not translated) based on his 1st source, Sashiko/Boro is not discussed with 1st source much. For that matter, Sashiko/Boro is filtered by privilege(English). I am NOT saying privileged people need to shut up. I am asking them to acknowledge the privilege they have – because They Are The One Who Can Change “It Is What It Is”. Please. You are the one who can change.
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「刺し子、興味があるのだけど、ハマりそうで怖い」というお言葉。回り回って、「ごめんなさい」としか言いようがないです（笑）刺し子（運針）は時食い虫なので、確かに忙しい日々と刺し子の相性は格別です。忙しい中に刺し子をぶち込むのは、なかなかに難易度が高いです（僕もうまくできてない）。でも、まぁ、ほら、僕は常に背中を支える場所にいるので、興味があれば是非、運針を学んで見てほしいです。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #SashikoStitching #CulturalAppropriation #SashikoStory #Unshin #日本の刺し子 #刺し子 #運針
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