You may remember the statement I made when I realized the strong trend of Sashiko a few years ago. I wrote: “I hope I can be a small stone in this Sashiko trend to create a small whirlpool”. The same statement is with me. Now, it has become my “mission” rather than a “hope”. ☆ […]
[Sashiko] is not a word to describe the visible mending. [Boro] is not a word for patchworking with recycled fabric. When I say [Sashiko/Boro] is NOT ___, many demand me to offer the alternative definition as if there is a single line to describe the whole culture. Unfortunately, as no single line can describe someone’s […]
I hope you had moments to mull over the Mind-Food in the previous post. When will Sashiko be “completed”? How/When did Japanese consider it (Sashiko) to be done or completed? Again, there is no absolute answer. We have only imagination. However, the imagination & stories will teach us the importance of supplies & tools. They […]
While talking to many (rising) Sashiko artisans in Japan, I started seeing a boundary between what we are trying to do & what the other “Sashiko Teachers” are doing. I have been trying to explain the difference in “teaching” as a professional or as a guide. However, it didn’t explain the whole picture of struggles […]
Boro isn’t a word for “(colorful) patchwork”. It isn’t even a word for “Mending”. Then, many ask “what is it?” as if I have a desirable answer for them. This account exists to explain what Boro is without eliminating the voices of Japanese people – and I don’t have the answers they want to hear. […]
In 2017, I decided to Stop buying new clothes. Instead of purchasing a new one, I decided to “fix (mend)” it. More importantly, in order to avoid the mending (which isn’t the best joy to me), I am trying to add Sashiko stitching everywhere I can feel. Many say that I am doing a good […]
We now enjoy the “antique” side of Boro – some pieces of Boro are nicely exhibited in museums, or sold in the big antique market as “Art”. This is a very interesting phenomena, and I agree with the beauty of Boro. However, I feel the need to share the Stories of “Boro” and Sashiko. (Boro […]
I often enjoy Sashiko with Indigo Dyed Cotton Fabric & White Thread. This combination has been introduced as “Tradition”, and some think that I am trying to “protect” this tradition by denying the on-going change. They say I am stubborn – one even accused me of being an obstacle to “their” creativity. Well… please let […]
Stitching Sashiko Together in Japan, while sharing the view of my Sashiko Experience. It has been my dream to make it happen to bring my Sashiko friends to Japan with. In 2019, I started planning the one. I completed the itinerary, made reservations for everyone on the list, even paid some deposit for some events… […]
Once, in its history, Sashiko was very close to the Japanese Ordinary. For more than 300 years, Sashiko has been transforming its form by accepting the change. I have seen the change, and I may have caused the change. The reason I am speaking up now, (the case some consider me one resisting the change […]