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I share many stories. I want you to read every post before “Reacting:, but here is a roughly condensed message: Sashiko introduced in English is NOT wrong but insufficient. I feel fear of someone non-Japanese making the “insufficient description of Sashiko” as a whole culture by ignoring/filtering voices from Japan(ese).  

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Here is an extreme analogy from my own experience. My wife (back then girlfriend), from Israel, introduced me to a great Middle Eastern dish, “Hummus”. I did not know about Hummus until I met her. I love Hummus. Although my understanding is limited, I wanted to introduce this dish to my family in Japan. So I got a recipe. In Japan, unfortunately, I couldn’t get “Tahini”. I “googled”. Then, I found a recipe using Yogurt instead of Tahini. I made “Hummus without Tahini” for my family. It didn’t taste like the hummus I enjoyed, but for my family, what I made was the whole picture of hummus they could know.

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The story ends without any harm because my family wouldn’t teach how to make hummus to others. Their “encounter” to the hummus ends at the dinner I offered. What if… though, if my family who think Tahini is optional to make “all the hummus” decided to open a Middle Eastern Restaurant in Japan – and they are very good at marketing to the extent that many Japanese start believing Tahini is an optional ingredient for Hummus…? Isn’t the culture of hummus repainted by them? Hummus without tahini is not Wrong, but insufficient when one teaches about the Hummus.

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Please replace “hummus” with the word you feel attached to. It is Sashiko for me. I understand each culture has their own hummus: a Japanese ruling that “Tahini is optional” can be very dangerous in changing the culture. If I were to teach about Hummus as an expert, I would need to learn their language as well. Otherwise, I will filter the Culture ignoring voices in their language. Talking about Hummus as a part of “Food in the word” doesn’t require the language itself, but if one promotes themselves as an expert, then the profit comes with a responsibility. 

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引き続き長文すみません。日本だと常識だろ思うことが、やっぱり常識では内容で。また配信で話しまします。

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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久々長文です。どっかで一人語り配信します。

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This is a question for non-Japanese people out of my curiosity. What is your “standard” to trust a teacher or a master? 

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The work pieces, the publications, and the title (like Ph.D) are good benchmarks. However, wouldn’t you expect a master of Japanese culture to be able to speak (fluent) Japanese…? At least, I would expect a master of Western culture in Japan to be able to speak English… When I meet an authentic Italian chef, I expect them to learn from a master in Italy while living in Italy. For some reasons, in crafting, anyone seems to be a “teacher” or a “lecturer” without proper understanding of the culture. Is this because the “masters in crafting” underestimate the audience/students? I don’t understand how & why.

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I do not consider myself a master/artist. I am learning how to teach & what is Art. At the same time, being Japanese does not qualify me to be a teacher/lecturer by itself. Therefore, I share stories here. Therefore, I share my “unedit version” of stitching in Live Streaming (Youtube) so that people can expect what they can learn from me. ALL of my western friends who are in a profession of Japanese Culture can speak fluent Japanese – and they all say their Japanese is nonproficient & their understanding of the culture is insufficient. I am not saying one needs to master Japanese language to enjoy Sashiko. I just don’t understand how “one” is chosen, for what qualification, to teach something they don’t know fully.

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This leads to another question as well: do we all have to learn English to protect the culture from Cultural Appropriation? 

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刺し子を伝える際に時々頭に思い浮かぶのが、昔のテレビ番組「マネーの虎」の一節です。「カナダを伝えるビジネスをしたい」という志願者に、「カナダには何回行ったことがあるの？」という質問に、「行ったことがありません」というやりとり。子供ながらに疑問に思ったのを覚えています。刺し子をする為に日本語を学べとは言いません（そりゃ学んでほしいですが）。ただ、日本文化としての刺し子や襤褸を教えるのであれば、そりゃ日本語で議論できるくらいにはなるべきだと思うんです。英語ができない西洋文化の専門家とかわけわからんやん。

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I guess the biggest misunderstanding in Sashiko is that people think Sashiko is a mending technique. Although “mending” is a very important part of Sashiko practice, the mending itself is NOT a principle. “Making Fabric Stronger/Warmer (in harsh conditions with limited resources)” is the principle of Sashiko – therefore, Sashiko thread matters – therefore, we use geometric patterns – therefore, we take “process” seriously. Sashiko was(is) a piece of wisdom (practice in the ordinary) to make fabric last long from the ordinary wear and tear. Therefore, although mending is a part of Sashiko, damaging fabric for mending purposes is completely opposite of Sashiko’s philosophy. One is trying to prolong the fabric life. One is intentionally damaging the fabric. I hope you see how “twisted/filtered” the culture is introduced. If one claims they know about Japanese culture, then they should speak up (not knowing is okay, but some intentionally do not for their convenience). – *before reacting, read the previous posts – I am not criticizing the value of “distressed fabric”. 

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違うSNSでふと呟いたのですが、40年生きてきて、僕は「解を出すこと」が苦手だなぁと思うのです。雑に表現すると、”頭が悪い”。記憶も分析もできます。引き出しが多いから頭の回転が早いような印象は与えられます。でも、実際は頭が回転しているわけじゃなく、上手に整理整頓ができているだけ。「答えを導き出すこと」が本当に下手だなぁと思うのです。（引き出しが多いのも一つの長所ではあるのですが）。

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昔から答えを導き出すことが苦手だったようなので、きっと「答えがない状態」を気持ち悪いと思わないのです。正解がない状況でも苦しくない。高校までは成績も良かったので、「俺は理系人間だ」と思っていたのですが、最近この事実に気がついて、いろいろ納得することも増えてきました。プログラミングが苦手なのもこれが理由だし、何よりリーダーになりきれないのはこれが理由。解を出して引っ張り導くリーダーではなく、大切な仲間の背中を支えて、何か忘れ物がないかを確認し続ける副担任の先生みたいな感じが一番能力が出るみたいです。（なんの話やねん）

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Thank you for all the comments about “Kintsugi”. I now learn that some people practice “Kintsugi” by breaking the pottery pieces on-purpose. 

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I am not criticizing those who break pieces on purpose at all. Crashing ceramics for creating something new can be a beautiful way to express one’s artistry. Although I do not prefer distressed denim, there is nothing wrong with damaging the fabric on purpose. It is fashion. It is their way to enjoy(enrich) life. I do respect their choices and creations.

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The pain (C/A) occurs when they mix their choice with foreign words(culture) with (intentional) ignorance. Breaking/damaging items for the purpose of practicing the culture (Kintsugi or Sashiko) is also fine. Teaching(profiting from) others the culture as if they know the whole picture while ignoring their lack of understanding is the problem. “Cherry Picking” is a very serious cultural concern. This isn’t even picking a good part of the culture – it is just repainting the culture to the color they like (or probably this is the cherry picking in the cultural discussion?)

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「自ら器を壊して修復する金継ぎは侘び寂びではないよね？」とコメントを頂いて少し考えてみました。ぶっちゃけ、「現代に置いて、自分で壊して修復する作業」なんか一周回って侘び寂びを感じます（笑）多分、同意してくれるもいるんじゃないかな。これが侘び寂びを言葉にできず翻訳できない理由です。一周回るから、定義が真反対になることもあって。

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（無理に言葉にすると）たぶん本来の金継ぎは、「修復されたもの」に向けての侘び寂び。今感じた侘び寂びは、「幻想を押し付け合う精神的な部分」を対象とした気持ちだと思います。上手に言葉にできなくて歯がゆいのですが、でも、答えがないってそういうことなんですよね。

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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 “Art”, yet I can see numbers of photos damaging the good new fabric with files/sand-paper, then mending it for their “Art”. What is the difference? Do people break pottery piece on purpose to mend with Kintsugi in Western society (It may be just me who do not know). 

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Extracting an idea from foreign language is very attractive. There are so many Japanese words which are “condensed” with filtering. “Wabi-Sabi”, “Mottainai”, “Ikigai”, they are probably more than what you know – so is Sashiko.

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「侘び寂び」だの「勿体ない」だの「生き甲斐」だの、様々な言葉が外国語になる過程で独り歩きしているのが現状です。僕は昔は、「（日本人がしっかりしてれば）別に海外でどう言葉が使われたって良いんじゃね？」と思っていたのですが、いざ国外に移住してみると、日本語話者じゃない人には、その独り歩きした言葉が文化として伝わってしまっていて、怖いなぁと思うのです。英語が母国語の娘に歪んで伝わるのが一番怖い。

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「金継ぎ」という修復文化は、不思議とそれほど歪曲せずに伝わっているような気がします。数年前は一大ブームでしたし。とはいえ素人なので、専門家の方からみれば歪んで伝わってしまっているのかもしれません。ただ、「壊れた器を美しく修復する」というのはわかりやすいんだろうなと思います。刺し子も襤褸も一緒だと思うんです。「破れた布を補修する」。不思議なのは、金継ぎでは器をトンカチで壊して修復して「KINTSUGI」と呼ぶのは変だと感じるのに、刺し子や襤褸になると、布をヤスリでぼろぼろにするのがアートの一部とされていること。確かに器の修復は趣もあるし、なぜか優雅さも加わって侘び寂びを感じるから……なのか？まだまだ勉強は続きます。

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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 those with (intentional) ignorance, then what I do is more like an activist. It’s the matter of definition, but I learned the importance of sharing the “Same” stories over and over again.

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I do not still consider myself an activist yet. I am NOT here to change anyone’s view. I just want to “leave” my voice so that someone (like you) will understand what `”Sashiko”would be ” when our Sashiko is wiped away by populism & commercialism. I summarized important information into videos. Please check them on our Youtube. There are NO rules in Sashiko – just respect to an origin (No rules doesn’t mean whatever is good).

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愚直に想いを言葉にして3年ちょい。継続はいつかは形になるもので、お陰様で「仕事」と呼べる課題が山積みの毎日です。量的に言うと、一人ではどうにもならない感じ。昔10人の頭で踏ん反り返っていた頃に比べると、とんでもない業務量です。昔は本当に恵まれてたなぁ。

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一人でどうにもならないなら「人を雇えばいい」とアドバイスを頂きます。うん。正解。でも微妙にずれているのです。仕事の目的が業務拡大且つ利益であれば、人を雇うのが正解です。僕の今の仕事にもその側面は勿論あるのですが、でも問題は「利益よりも重視する想いがある」ということ。人様の人生を背負うと、これができなくなります。だって普通、お金の方がいいもの。

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今の刺し子の現状は商業主義の一つの結果です。決して否定している訳じゃないんです。そもそも僕は刺し子の商業化の中で育ってますし、日本国内だけだったらここまで僕は苦しんでいない（悩みはしただろうけれど）。商業主義と西洋文化が交わる事で、とんでもない発展が、しかも日本人が理解できない（文化的にも言語的にも）所で発展してるのが本当に嫌で怖いんです。大袈裟ですかね？でもね、もう手遅れかもしれません。でも手遅れでも黙ることはできません。だからこその動画です。英語圏での刺し子の懸念が第一なので、英語ばかりの動画で恐縮なのですが、想いが伝われば幸いです。

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One Story per day. I apologize I couldn’t accomplish it yesterday. I couldn’t get up from the bed. I haven’t been feeling well last few weeks. A story per day. It is a voice from my heart. I cannot just observe someone overpainting my memories regardless if they are good or bad. Sashiko isn’t anyone’s possession. However, my memories are my own – and everytime I acknowledge ignorance, I stop to fight back in the sorrow. If you have any issues with what I write, read my desperate messages here. Don’t read what you think I would write. I am tired of explaining myself.

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Some say, “Hey, if you are in that much pain, you should stop it (sharing, teaching Sashiko, or business itself)”. I know they mean well, but that is the last knife to end me. Do I have a choice to give up sharing? Privileged people do whatever they want no matter what… so I should just observe them overrunning my culture – and my own memories?

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If you are not willing to learn what Sashiko is to us, stop teaching & calling it Sashiko. (Before you react, read my insight in Cultural Appropriation with Sashiko). I have been screaming for 2 years. I will continue if I cough up the blood. My messages are my life. Do not degrade someone’s life by saying, “It is your choice”. Sashiko isn’t a choice for me. It is my life.

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一日一投稿……と続けてきましたが、昨日は投稿できませんでした。ベッドから起き上がれませんでした。少し限界がきているのかもしれません。とんでもない濁流に自分から飲まれに行っているのは承知していたのですが、やはり傷つきすぎると人は動けなくなるようで。

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「たかが刺し子に何を大袈裟な」と思われるかもしれません。僕自身そう思う時もありますから。でも、僕の人生、ほとんど刺し子に関わることなんです。酸いも甘いも痛みも、ほんの少しの喜びも、なにかしら刺し子と紐付けされてる。それを、”日本を知った風に装う人”に、”笑顔で善意を振りまきながら”、土足で踏み躙られていると、とても苦しいのです。しかも、「私は楽しいし善意だよ」と、人と傷つけながら自己を完全に肯定しながら。でもね。諦めるという選択肢はないんですよ。血を吐こうが倒れようが伝えなきゃいけないものがここにあるんです。

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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”. It isn’t always about “Right” or “Wrong”, “True” or “False”. This dualism is already a filtering system in Western Culture. If you think you know about Sashiko without the Japanese cultural/linguistic understanding, then please doubt what you know is enough. 

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[Sashiko literally means “Little Stabs”.] is not a wrong statement. However, some well-educated Japanese wonder if it is satisfactory. I shared this concern a few years ago. I am still learning & researching. 

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As a native Japanese who spends most of my life in Sashiko, I often wonder “Who is Sashiko for?”. Sashiko doesn’t exist for me, but my life may exist for Sashiko. Sashiko can be a remedy for social issues, but Sashiko isn’t a magic bullet for their temporary needs – with cutting & pasting a “part” of Sashiko. I am happy to share Sashiko for anyone – but Sashiko isn’t just for the Joy of people with privilege.

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「刺し子はなぜ（”誰の / 何の”為に）存在するのか」。物心がついた頃からの長年の疑問です。幼少期からそれを考えていればそりゃ面倒くさい大人になりますよ（笑）でもね、考えざるを得なかったんです。「刺し子が長男としての未来だ」としてレールを敷かれ、そのレールが嫌で仕方なかったのだから。

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答えなんて出ない疑問ですが、「刺し子は日本人の為に存在した/する」という結論には至っています。だから、使い捨てのティッシュのような感じで西洋の文化で切り取られるのが嫌なんです。現代の英語圏での刺し子は、切り取られ、肉付けされ、なんだか「現代の特効薬」的な存在感を持っていたりします。刺し子は確かに良い薬になるのですが、漢方薬的な立ち位置です。どんどん刺し子が英語で変わっていくのを見ると、やっぱり声は出し続けていかなきゃなと思うのです。

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【Announcement for the Online Sashiko Class】

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I have made this announcement several times in my other accounts (@upcyclestitches) & website (UpcycleStitches.com). Just in case, right before June 1st, here is the announcement for the Online Sashiko Class.

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Due to the steep increase in Shipping Cost from Japan to the U.S. as well as some inflation, I increased the Online Sashiko Class to $330.00. I set the month of May as the adjusting period, and one may register their workshop with the previous price of $300.00 with agreeing that they will start the workshop sometime in June or later. Also, the waiting list to receive this pricing is available until 5/31. 

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The goal of this Online Sashiko Class is to encourage & enable you to be able to stitch as we do. Therefore, it comes with a Live Session for me to check their learning & adjust my teaching to each individual. I set the maximum number of the students per specific period, and I believe the learning can be their life-long benefit. Once they learn it, they can use it for their life-time for their Sashiko. Since I do not plan to go back to an in-person workshop to NYC anytime soon (I may offer something in PA), please consider this Online Sashiko Class to enrich your Sashiko experience. If your goal is to have even stitches with stitching in good speed, this is a great opportunity for you (check our Youtube how we stitch). The link is available from “Story” today.

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約1ヶ月ぶりの配信（刺し子の部屋）、楽しく行うことができました。ありがとうございます。「運針会」という刺し子の運針（指ぬきと針の使い方）をお教えする会、この夏のどこかで一度開催できたらと思っています。6月末の週末か平日の午前中か……もし希望があればDMやコメントでお知らせ頂けたら嬉しいです。詳細はプロフィールのリンクから「運針会について」というブログを一読頂ければと思います。運針の楽しさが広まりますように〜！

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