If you find me recently, you may see me as “stubborn, clinging-tradition, and conservative.” If you follow me for a while, you may find me as “acceptant and progressive”. I have to accept that I am stubborn, but please understand that I have determined what is important to share. I accept the change in Sashiko […]
I had shared some of my understanding about the relationship between language & culture. My message is clear – if one teaches about the cultural topic (here, Sashiko), then don’t the teachers have to be fluent in that language spoken there? I received many types of reactions, from agreement to accusation to me for being […]
Our brain is amazing. You may know this interesting paragraph below: ☆ “Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Hravrad Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and […]
Do you know a Japanese culture(practice) called “Kintsugi”? It is a practice to repair(mend) broken pottery pieces with lacquer. It is introduced as a metaphoric symbol of embracing imperfection. Sashiko/Boro are in the same category. However, I haven’t seen an artist who breaks a pottery piece with a hammer, and repairs it then calls it […]
I would like to consider myself a story-teller rather than an activist for Sashiko. I thought, as a story-teller, my mission is to share a series of “new” stories. Therefore, I try to write something new in every post. However, I may have to change my view. If I am asking for a change to […]
Teaching Sashiko in Western Culture always gives me an opportunity to learn how different we can be. It is the beauty of diversity, and let’s appreciate the difference. You know it by now. I do NOT intend to exclude non-Japanese from Sashiko. I want them/you to enjoy Sashiko. All I am asking is to “learn”. […]
Are you interested in Sashiko & sightseeing in Japan? If so, the Sashiko Tour Japan Spring 2022 with Tampopo Journey is the all-in-one package tour for you. Sashiko – a form of hand-stitching developed in Japan – has been introduced in English very widely. With some keywords such as “slow-stitching” and “visible mending”, Sashiko has […]
I have never had any education in Art. If they call me an artist, what I do is Outside Art. My understanding of Art is extremely limited (I am learning little by little). Being said, does Art justify a creation over someone’s pain? A cultural pain has to be suppressed by ignorance if one shouts, […]
I am NOT sharing Sashiko Stories to change someone’s view. Sharing stories is the method of sharing a different perspective to the majority group. After all, the goal of sharing the Sashiko stories is to pass down the Sashiko with as few “cultural changes” as possible. ☆ We live in a society ruled by the […]
This is the same Jacket in yesterday’s post. A bit different angle. Have you realized that this jacket has no “knots”? It is a single layered Jacket. What’s in the photo is mostly the “inside (hiding side)” of the Jacket. In Sashiko, the Japanese didn’t have the luxury to cover the “wrong side” with lining […]