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I appreciate many feedback to the previous post: my new voice for “Cultural Sustainability”. One of the most significant misunderstandings of the word “Sashiko” and “Boro” is that they became the words for mainly “Techniques” or “Design. Yes, Sashiko requires some techniques, and I teach them in my workshop. However, it is merely a preparation for the whole experience of Sashiko (as a stitchery in Japan). Boro isn’t even the word for technique at all. Then, some ask: “What is the whole experience?” or “Then what is Sashiko?”, expecting there should be easy explanations to understand. Unfortunately, there aren’t such convenient things to cross culturally. Therefore, I have many platforms to share stories.The stories here will provide the outline of what Sashiko/Boro is.
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I understand the trend, though. It is “Westernized” (Also Japanese are westernized). In Western Culture, it is recommended to “control it”. The skill of controlling the needle is admired as a profession, and the ability of creating cool designs is cherished. There is nothing wrong with that: but the Core & Essence of Sashiko exist outside of Western expectation. Sashiko and Boro are the Japanese words with so many years of Stories. It is our (my) responsibility to speak on behalf of artisans who I grew up with.
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All I ask is “acknowledge” it, and be mindful who you (indirectly) support. If one only cares about “Fun” and “Easiness” while saying “Whatever is fine”, then this account will be too uncomfortable for them. I am not here to change them, but I need to do something to pass down the Sashiko we have been practicing by these “violent whatever”. Sashiko requires technique, but the technique itself won’t make them “master”. Please acknowledge who you are learning from. When you wish to acknowledge the stories behind the word Sashiko, then I am happy to see you calling your stitching Sashiko (Boro is a bit different, so it requires more stories…).
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「文化ってなんだ？」って思われる事もあるかと思います。配信では良くお話するのですが、僕は文化とは「ある圏内で生活する人達の平均の集合体」だと思っています。雑にいうと、「その地域の当たり前」が文化です。なので文化は変わります。変わって然るべき。ただ、歴史的に「文化を強制的に塗り替える」ということも起こってきました。僕はそれが刺し子で起こるのが嫌なんです。日本の素晴らしさは世界に誇れると思うから。
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I used to want to be “someone special”. What I received as a privilege, Sashiko, seemed too boring and too ordinary. Interestingly, my youth was all about how to be someone else who wasn’t me. After 20~30 years, the ordinary I despised became an important element of my life. You may find some “messages” from my stories. I appreciate it. However, at the simplest point, I just would like to pass down the Sashiko my family & friends devoted themselves to. A change is great. We all tried to change Sashiko to a better one. I just want the change to be reasonable & mindful with respect: not the change by ignorance or indifference for someone’s profit.
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“Cultural Sustainability” is a new word in my story. The idea isn’t something extraordinary in our reasonable standard. If one enjoys cultural practice with using the name, they should use (or at least understand the difference of) tools/supplies from the culture: otherwise, the Cultural Sustainability would be twisted, or worse destroyed by those with other privileges. There are so many stories/reasons why we use tools/supplies made in Japan for Sashiko. No tradition can survive without the healthy chains of artisans. Without proper needle, thimble, and thread, I cannot be a Sashiko Artisan. A mindset of appreciating this circulation is Cultural Sustainability.
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In fact, the only thing I can do is to stitch (in front of you) & to share stories behind Sashiko/Boro. It is slow, but the best way to contribute to Cultural Sustainability. I cannot change anything by myself, but I can protect the culture with you here by sharing & enjoying Sashiko stories. I have a very small voice, but not voiceless. Please copy. Please spread Story. I want the world to know what Sashiko really is.
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ある記事で写真を使いたいとの事で、妻にお願いして一枚。（結局ボツになったけどw）。普段は床に直に座って刺し子をしています。
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先日の配信もありがとうございました。いろいろ偉そうな話をしていますが、一番根底にある願いは「恵子さんに刺し子を続けて欲しい」というのが一番で、次に「親父がみていた風景を汚されたくない」というものです。2番目はここ数年の英語圏での刺し子の変化で感じているもの。どんな文化も伝統も、作り手がいなければ成り立ちません。だからこそ、刺し子が下手だと卑下する自分でも、やっぱり刺し子は続けるんです。道具も材料も使い続ける。細々とで良いので、文化が引き継がれていって欲しいなと思うんです。ま、もっと単純に言うと、「楽しいからやってる」ところもあるんですけどね（楽しくなけりゃ何千時間もやってられないので）。
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If one is willing to learn Sashiko, there are a LOT of materials on my platforms (Youtube & Website) for learning Sashiko. If one is expecting a simplified filtered answer for Sashiko, then what I share is “too much”. I do not plan to change what I do to offer instant gratification for profit. Instead, I am willing to share the whole picture of Sashiko: That’s my identity.
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I offer a lot of learning materials for free on Youtube & websites. Of course, I do not offer “everything” there. One reason is because I need to make ends meet somehow. However, there is another criteria I deeply consider if I should offer the learning materials for free or not. It is: “Do I contribute to maintaining or destroying Cultural Sustainability?”.
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“Cheap” is good. “Free” is even better. On the Internet, like many big businesses, “Offering free (first) to get the market” is a good strategy. Some say “no publicity is bad publicity”. If my goal is just money, I should follow how the successful big business does. However, what I care about is “how this culture can be sustainable”. I always spend big time considering the boundaries of sharing it for free, and keeping them for those who come to us to learn. Interestingly, the “Core” is okay to share for free, yet other small elements to be part of the whole picture often affect the cultural sustainability. In short, if someone in the culture gets a “negative outcome” by me sharing something for free, I shouldn’t. I cannot pass down Sashiko by myself. I need to, and would like to, do so with many other Japanese people. What I do is very slow since I take careful steps. However, I am getting confident that this is “the” way I can appreciate what I have received. Please keep learning from our platform. You will find your own answer one day.
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「（情報は）無料（で手に入る）」ことが当たり前になった世の中です。僕自身Youtube等で刺し子の情報を出しているので、基本無料で刺し子を見て学ぶことはできます。ただ、全てが無料で良いとは思っていません。なので、毎回動画を作る際は、企画の段階で相当に考えを深めます。基準は、「無料で出すことによって痛みを伴う人が、その文化圏の中にいるかどうか」ということです。想像力を働かせた結果動画を準備はしたけれど……というケースもあります。「持続可能な文化」とは、ある意味で経済が回る文化であるべきで、無料の情報だけだとどうしても偏ってしまう。というか人がいなくなってしまう可能性がある。人がいないと文化形成は難しいので、上手にバランスを考えないとな……と。まだまだ頑張ります。
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Words Matter. It is so sad to see “Sashiko” and “Boro” become whatever: or whatever they make become Sashiko and/or Boro. There aren’t Right and Wrong in Sashiko Stitchery in terms of “what one should do”. However, “whatever with intentionally ignoring what they can be” is wrong from a cultural perspective.
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“Not knowing itself” is okay. We all don’t know it when we start. We can all learn it every day, and I am here for that. All I fight back is “Intentional Ignorance” and “Indifference”: saying what I do is “inspired” work with saying “I know Sashiko & Boro”. How can one “Know” the cultural practice with so many years of history while being fluent in the language…? (No language needed to enjoy it, but claiming that they “know” it requires some commitment.)
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“English as Language” is one privilege we have. Since Sashiko & Boro are Japanese words, and some people believe they can “fully understand” the culture in the privileged language, I need to go through huge emotional labor to protect my identity – every single day. It is unfortunate to say, but Sashiko & Boro in English has become something completely different from what I have received. Some intentionally twisted the culture, and the majority (who with language privilege) formed the filtered version of Sashiko & Boro. However, I haven’t lost hope yet. There are so many people who wish to re-learn. I am still a small stone in a big trend. I can only make a small whirlpool (time for them to think) in the big trend now. However, by speaking up, I believe I can have some of the mainstream to go back to the original scenery I have seen.
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Care for others before Self-assertion. Acknowledge before Excuse. All I am writing here is based on the “Japanese mindset” in Sashiko I have received.
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刺し子と運針。密接な関係にあるものですが、刺し子で一番難しいのは運針ではありません。一番難しいのは、「布の気持ちを汲み取る事」です。具体的に言うと、いとこきだったり、色の組み合わせだったり、糸と柄と布による伸縮具合の調整だったり。運針はそんな布との会話を潤滑にしてくれるもの……だと思っています。もちろん、布によってはどんなに運針しようともうんともすんとも言わない、あるいは天の邪鬼みたいなのもありますが。
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「刺し子はアートだ」と結果のみに焦点を当てるのが悪いとは思いませんが、この一番楽しい（難しい）会話を経験して欲しいなぁと思うのですよ。きっと刺し子がもっと好きになるから。
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Boro is always a result, but never definite. The discussion of exchanging “answers” about Sashiko and Boro in English isn’t wrong, but unbalanced. The result (outcome/design) can be westernized, but when “mindset (ordinary expectation)” gets unreasonably westernized, it is no longer Sashiko no matter how it looks.
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In my workshop, I almost never sit down. I do not have a meal during the workshop – probably just a piece of candy & water. Everyone has a slightly different “point” to understand the core of Sashiko, as their own Sashiko. It is my responsibility to catch that point and encourage them to keep pursuing: in a limited amount of hours in In-person workshop & over the camera for Online Class. I am confident that I can. All I ask for them is to not give up on me, or even on themselves.
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We are always measured by a result, but I hope it will never be definite. We are always stitching Sashiko, but I can only talk about the Sashiko I know. Things change, and I accept. I am speaking up so that “ignorance” will prevent someone from learning. I am putting my own life in Sashiko. Don’t let others define the “answers” for you. Don’t let anyone define your value: the fabric tells all the stories to us.
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この2年で「刺し子を教える場」を主にオンラインに移行しました。オンラインで刺し子を教える良い所は、「お時間さえ頂ければ必ずできるようになる」という確信を持っていること。時間は無制限ではないですが、刺し子はそんなに難しいことではないので、コツを掴む瞬間を一緒に過ごすことができれば、後は自然にできるようになります。自転車に乗る練習みたいなもんですよ。
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対面型のワークショップにも、勿論フォローアップする機会はあるのですが、やっぱり「その場でできるようになりたい」という期待を持ってこられている方が多いので、一秒たりとも無駄にしないように、そのコツを掴む瞬間を見逃さないように神経を使っています。お昼御飯は食べません。座ることもまずありません。誰かが針を動かしている限り、その手元をずーっと見ています。それだけの覚悟を持って刺し子を教えています。英語で（非日本言語で）刺し子を教える場合は、これくらいの覚悟がないと文化がネジ曲がるんです。「刺し子がなけりゃ襤褸にもならない」という和田先生のお言葉通り、全てが繋がっているのです。
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Almost 5 years ago, when I received the first request to offer the Sashiko Workshop, I had no idea what I could teach. Ever since, “teaching” became the main focus of my challenges. As I always say, teaching comes with big responsibility – because students there need to somewhat trust what the teachers say. No need to agree with everything, but the learning becomes agonizing when a student keeps wondering in their mind. I believe all teaching has to come with stories behind it. We call it logic or reasoning. I wouldn’t like a teacher saying “Just because” or “Just memorize it”.

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The goal of my teaching is to, of course, pass down the Sashiko we have been practicing. I will share how I stitch after the brief explanation of our Sashiko. A majority of students have happy & worrisome faces when they see me stitching: expectation of possibility and fear of failure. My role is to take all the fear away, and leave them with more expectation for their future Sashiko. I know what I teach now after sharing this with 500+ people. I like the significant change at the end of the workshop: from “Oh, I cannot because ____” to “Well, it isn’t so difficult (Atsushi’s stitching seems to be easy)”. I can make it happen in both Online & In-Person. Sashiko isn’t just about technique – when we share some philosophical understanding of Sashiko, then one can acquire the life-time stitching technique. I appreciate the great opportunity of 3-Day’s Workshop in beautiful place at Aya Fiber Studio with beautiful people.

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一つ決めました。ごめんなさい。もう「ワークショップの写真を撮るの頑張ります」って言わないようにします。3日間。21時間もの時間があったのに、自分のスマホに残ってる写真がございません（笑）受講下さった方に写真をお願いしていますが、もう多分、ワークショップのスイッチが入るとどうにもならないんだろうと思います。21時間も何をワークショップでするんだ？と困惑しながら引き受けた大役ですが、写真を撮る暇がないくらいに楽しんで頂けたらとようで肩の荷が降りています。お約束していた「お散歩配信」、朝の時間に余裕がないので、もしかしたらできないかもしれないです。申し訳ない。もしできそうだったらインスタで軽くフロリダの朝をお届けできればと思っています。金曜夜の配信は変わらず行う予定です！（まだリンクは作ってないけど）。

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I am not a trained teacher. Therefore, everytime I teach, all of my energy goes into teaching as if I am splitting my life & sharing it. It is my pleasure to share a piece of my life so that one can learn something new in Sashiko. That’s my commitment to Sashiko & the responsibility as the one who talks about Sashiko. A whole day of 7 hours+ workshop, I cannot eat lunch. Ever since I started teaching, I put all of what I have into each teaching opportunity. As a result, I sometimes crash into the sofa right after the workshop, like last night (& got up very early in the morning).

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I received encouraging feedback yesterday: “I think I now like Sashiko (much better)”. It implied that she didn’t like Sashiko before, so I asked how she perceived Sashiko before. She didn’t “hate” Sashiko, but Sashiko didn’t amuse her much. Often, skilled hand-sewer in any form of stitchery, embroidery, hand-quilting, tailoring… They have incredible skills (which I would like to learn from). When they encounter Sashiko, they may first feel, “oh, another word for another design or stitchery”. Therefore, some do not find Sashiko something amusing. That’s the scary part of “insufficiency” of information available in non-Japanese language. “How to” is only one part of Sashiko. When they “feel” and “do” Sashiko, then something new kicks in – no matter how experienced they are, I am confident that I am offering something eye-opening in my teaching, both in Online & In-Person.

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Honest feedback makes my day, and I have one more day to spend all of my energy there. Sashiko is more than just making beautiful stitches.

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2日目の後、電池が切れて折角のホテル住まいなのにソファで力尽きてしまいました（笑）。この写真を撮って投稿しようとした直前に。今日頂いた感想にとても嬉しいものがありました。「なんか、刺し子が好きになってきた」。 この言葉、ワークショップ前は刺し子がそんなに好きじゃなかったということを意味します。実際にそう仰ってました。運針を学んで頂く中で新しい楽しみ方を感じて好きになって頂ける。これぞ教えることの醍醐味であり、僕が刺し子を教え続ける一番の理由です。刺し子沼（運針沼）に沢山の人を押し落としているので、結構沼にハマらせる自信はあるのですよ（笑）

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It isn’t easy to speak up honestly in a big trend – sometimes, an honest voice can be perceived as negativity or even arrogance. It is always easier to get along the flow, but there are reasons I share the honest Sashiko Stories. It requires will-power to keep doing so.

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I can keep sharing Sashiko Stories thanks to those who come to listen to what I teach & share. Live Session via Online Sashiko Class & In-person Workshops are the precious opportunity for me to thank directly to those who support what we do. This week is one of those. Feedback from new friends who took my workshop saying: “So much fun. Thank you for coming (offering the workshop)” override all of the difficult challenges I face. After so many years of Sashiko stitching & several years of  teaching, I am confident in what I can do & teach. It is my pleasure to share not only the techniques & design, but also the “Core & Essence” of Sashiko with them. ☆

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7時間のワークショップ終わり。また写真を撮ってないことに気がついて（笑）多分ね、もう努力目標にすらしない方がいい気がする程、ワークショップが始まると全く他のことができなくなるのです。受講下さっている方から写真を頂いて、恵子さんの一目刺しジャケケットの試着画像です。

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とても不思議な話なのですが、いい古布と草木染糸で刺し子をすると、日光の当たり具合により色が微妙に代わり、プリズム的な立体イメージを見ることがあります。実際には針目が立体になるわけはないので、目の錯覚というか、古布と草木染糸、各々の反射が輝いているような感じになるのだとは思うのですが、刺し子は日の下で見るとまた違った作品に見えてきます。そんな一枚。3日のワークショップ。明日と明後日で、あと14時間。まだまだ頑張ります！

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“What do you like about Sashiko?”. I convinced myself to ask this question to the public in 2022. I was scared of facing reality. I am still in fear of unknown changes within Sashiko. However, it is my time to speak up – if it isn’t too late.

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What do you like about Sashiko? I believe the answers can be roughly categorized into 2 big points of view: (1) Design/How it Looks, and (2) Meditative/Relaxing function. Of course, everyone has their own answer to the questions. So I am not generalizing “you”, but I believe when they use the word “inspired”, it is either “simplified-design” or “hand-stitching” part.

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Both outcome (design) and process (stitching) are incredibly important in Sashiko. However, it doesn’t explain the whole. Understanding the expectation that the ordinary Japanese would have is important. “Sashiko” is a Japanese word. Therefore, we call it “Sashiko”. Without “willingness” to learn what isn’t obvious, it can be any other name, and I believe each culture has its name for stitching.

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Please do not get me wrong. I am NOT asking anyone to stop using the word “Sashiko”. Use it for your stitching project. However, please keep learning. It has at least 100 years of established practice. They say it is 400 years, or could be more. I cannot simplify the significance, and therefore, I am teaching & sharing Sashiko as a Japanese who was born in Japanese Sashiko.

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この数年で僕の中でも様々な価値観が変わりましたが、一番大きな変化が「家が一番好きになった」ということです。昔は出張とかホテル住まいとか好きだったし、なんなら外資系に勤めてた友達が年間の半分ホテル滞在とか聞いて羨ましいなぁと思っていた側なのですが、今では逆で移動したくない感じです。空港に滞在する感じ、マスク装着している以外はもう以前と変わらない混雑さだし。とはいえ、こんな状況下にもかかわらず、「ワークショップ楽しみにしているよ！」という声を頂き、一緒に時間を過ごしながら刺し子を共有できるのは、本当に有難いことだなと思うのです。  

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