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We now respect “Equality” in many aspects. I am learning every day, and I feel this is a great shift in our history. Social Equality is quite important. At the same time, however, we must acknowledge that there were many types of “Inequality” in our history – in fact, more or less, even today. In Japan, when the Japanese practiced Sashiko, Gender Inequality was quite significant. Men were more privileged (like other cultures, too). Historically, Sashiko was a work for women. My struggle kicks in here because I was a man who tried to receive the practice of traditionally done by women (there is nothing wrong with men to stitch Sashiko, I am talking about the “difference” in history, not the discrimination).
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Instead of justifying myself & being defensive, I have been trying to “learn”. There are, of course, things that I cannot experience due to the gender difference. However, I can try & imagine. For that, what I do is a bit contradictory because sharing “stories” by talking/writing isn’t probably the primary way to describe what Sashiko is. An ability (permission) to talk was more for those with power, and women who practiced Sashiko probably didn’t have the choice to speak up freely. Instead, they put themselves into stitching THEREFORE, some Sashiko Jackets are so powerful.
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Keiko isn’t a really good at explaining things. She loves to chat, but not a story-teller. I used to be pretty quiet because “silence” can sometimes be better in our culture. The more I learn about the Western Culture, some consider “silence” as “No Voice”, which may lead to the “Non existence”. Well, we exist. We can make this kind of Jacket even today. Sashiko isn’t only in the Past. We are here – and I will follow the Western Value to preserve the Japanese Value as well.
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本日の配信もありがとうございました。早口で話してしまった記憶があるのですが、とても有意義なお話ができたんじゃないかなと思っています。ラジオ感覚で聞いて頂けたら嬉しいです！
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「特権」について簡単に雑にお話をしてみて、なんとか説明できないかと頑張ってみたのですが、また再度準備して挑戦する必要がありそうです。この「特権」。幼少期から現在に至るまで、刺し子をする上で悩みの種だったりします。そんな思いも含めて今後も刺し子と共に日本について語っていけたらと思っています。まだ、こういう素敵な刺し子ジャケットが作れる職人さんがいるのだから、物語は残すべきだと思うのですよ。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子

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In recent posts, I have been sharing the significance of the Japanese Ordinary – in which we tend to forget about Westernization, but we all had it before when we “had to” stitch. I say it “Japanese Ordinary” because I can only talk on behalf of Japanese culture. However, when we imagine, it can happen to anyone in any culture – not in today’s value system, though.
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“Imagination” is more important than “answers” because there is no such a thing as “Right or Wrong”. “Dialogue” without specific purpose is more Sashiko-Like than “Discussion” to find the specific answers. Therefore, I share stories. Therefore, I do not jump into discussions in English where they are discussing what is “Right” Sashiko or not. As long as they look for the answers… I don’t think they can reach the Core anyway. In the post on 6/25, I share a photo of Furoshiki with Shippou Pattern with Square. Today, I share a whole picture of this Furoshiki. My mother Keiko received this Furoshiki from her friend who “found” this in her old drawer. She has applied some mending with other vintage fabric swatches. I want you to wonder why there are no stitches in the square. This is where “Imagination” kicks in, and the point where fabric starts talking – carrying memories, and we add stories by stitching. There is no answer for this question – why is it empty in the square – just stitching around the edges. Interestingly, Keiko and I came up with the same story. It is because we share similar values, expectations & common sense. How about you? Can you receive any stories from this Furoshiki? (I may talk about it in Live Streaming tomorrow & updated on Patreon).
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度々ご紹介はしているのですが、ここで紹介している刺し子、全てが私達の刺し子という訳ではありません。とは言え、インターネットで探してきた写真を上げている訳ではなく、「私達（淳＆恵子）以外の方々の刺し子でも手元にご縁を頂いたもの」は紹介させて頂いているという意味です。全部が私等の針目ではない…ということです。
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この風呂敷も恵子さんの刺し子仲間から頂いたものです。古い箪笥の奥にあったっぽいのを、ご縁を頂いて、少し手直しをして、素敵な風呂敷として勉強をさせて頂いています。襤褸は嫌だと前書いたのですが、「誰が持っていたか」分かるものであれば嫌ではありません。また洗うことによってリセットも可能です（洗えない襤褸はきつい）。さて。この風呂敷。何か足りないような気がします。この物語を想像することが「布と語る」という刺し子の醍醐味かなと思ったりするのです。正解も間違いもありません。想像での物語です。今週の配信では、このお話もできたらと思っています。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #SashikoFuroshiki #JapaneseBoro #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子

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Well… it is indeed happening: a word starts walking by itself in its trend with leaving stories behind (言葉の一人歩き）. The whole purpose of this account is to “share” so that I can fulfill something filtered out by those who make profit out of “Sashiko” & “Boro”. I received comments expressing their surprise at my previous post saying that [I didn’t know the Boro has a negative aspect]. As I have explained deeply in English Live Streaming on 6/23, the word “Boro” with positive meaning is a very recent phenomena. Calling someone “Oh your Boro looks Cool” can be extremely insulting in some cases – and trend with those cultural stories behind can be quite painful to someone like me – who try to pass it down.
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The trend is ongoing: The bigger, and the faster I can handle. Some advised me that “Sashiko” and “Boro” was in #SewingBee Show. It has quite a big impact in terms of publicity… but I don’t know if it will be a good one or not. Since I haven’t watched the episode, I will not talk about it at this moment. However, “Boro” introduced in English is insufficient: it is missing a lot of important essences.Although it is not my intention to summarize the essence so superficially, I couldn’t keep silence to see “Boro” being something “fancy” without any cultural contexts. To question today’s trend, I made a video on Youtube. I hope you have time to watch that.
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It is NOT me who can change this trend. We don’t need to “Stop” the trend because the trend itself is good stuff – we should “recycle” and “reuse” what we have. I just want the trend to be more mindful, especially because they are using Japanese words. It is YOU who can change this trend, and therefore I keep sharing stories here so that you can learn more. Please do NOT celebrate “Boro” with ignorance. Please appreciate Boro with proper knowledge & wisdom.
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本日の配信もありがとうございました。脱線しまくりですが、大切なお話はできたと思っています。昔から危惧していたことではあるのですが、現在「襤褸(BORO)」という言葉には主に「ポジティブ」なイメージが定着しているようで、これは昔の言葉の使われ方としては逆ベクトルです。違いや変化が悪いのではなく、その変化の過程が無視されてしまっているのが問題かなと。大切なことなので動画も作ってみました。まだまだ英語が主ですがご覧頂けたら嬉しいです
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #JapaneseBoro #刺し子 #襤褸

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I talk about the importance of the Japanese Language in order to understand what Sashiko fully is. However, it doesn’t mean that every Japanese (anyone with fluent Japanese language skill) is well educated to define what Sashiko is. Some are using the word “Sashiko” to market themselves regardless of their language. I keep sharing “why” language is important to have the proper understanding “to teach others” about a cultural practice. However, again, it doesn’t mean that one needs to master the Japanese language to enjoy/practice Sashiko. Anyone can & should enjoy Sashiko – This account exists to fulfill the gap due to the language insufficient. Don’t simplify culture. Of course, unfortunately, there are Japanese who do not care & acknowledge Sashiko & Boro that their ancestors were practicing.
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One of the most scary things about Sashiko being a trend in “West (in English)” exists in our (Japanese) subconscious mindset. We have been trained to look up West – to catch up with what the While Culture does (did). I can keep counting how much we value the Western Culture and Trend “from” West, even if it is based on our Japanese Culture. Therefore, when “Sashiko in English” is introduced to Japan, the non-Japanese Sashiko teachers may be valued more because they can say they are the “expert in Sashiko in West” even without the proper language skill. That’s how “damaged” the Japanese subconscious is… (It is a long story to explain why it has been damaged. I will talk about it on Youtube Live if you are interested).
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The principle of Sashiko exists in the ordinary of the national isolation of Japan (1639~1853) – when many unique cultures & rituals are created. The culture should be altered over time. However, I believe the change has to be done with mindfulness & understanding of many stories.
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「刺し子とは何か」という定義は、なかなかに難しいです。お味噌汁の正解は？つまりは、どの出汁で、どの味噌で、どの具材が味噌汁足るものなのかを決めるのが難しいように、刺し子の正解を決めてしまうのも難しいのです。「○○が刺し子だ（それ以外は違う）」と言うような排他的な定義は嫌ですが、同時に「なんでもかんでも刺し子だ」という流れも嫌です。言葉には物語があり、物語の裏には人がいます。それを無視して、「売れるから」「注目されるから」と言う理由で言葉を無理やり乱用するのは、とてもダサいなぁと思うのです。まずは知る事から。そんなに難しい事じゃない。どこから始めていいかわからないと言う方は、是非私達の配信に遊びに来てください。案外刺し子は奥深い事に共感頂けると思います。
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Around 2009~2010, a few years before I “determined” to spend my life in Sashiko, Sashiko wasn’t something to enjoy at all. In much suffering, I challenged myself (ourselves) to make this type of Denim with patchworks with small pieces of fabric that no one were to use. I didn’t know the concept of SDGs. I never thought of Sustainability, yet what I was doing is exactly what the current trend indicates. In Japanese culture, our “ordinary” itself can be an action of SDGs, and for its sustainability. Therefore, I am sharing the stories of Sashiko and Japanese culture – Culture as an accumulation of voices & stories.
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Several Sashiko Artisans criticized this as “Non-Sashiko” items. I believe many thought the same thing. They just didn’t verbalize it. Now, interestingly, this type of “patchwork” is known as “Sashiko”. Culture Changes. We all changes (although we dislike changes in general). Therefore, it is extremely important to keep sharing the stories so that “we” can acknowledge people & practice, instead of ignoring something foreign to maximize their profit & convenience.
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I had a Good Live Streaming on the previous Thursday night (16th). The archive is on Youtube – SashikoStory Channel. I hope you would find time to listen to it so that the Sashiko we practice will be more closer to you.
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本日の刺し子配信も素敵な時間をありがとうございました。13年前。刺し子と共に生きることへの覚悟を決める前の数年間は、こんな未来が存在するなんて想像すらしていませんでした。刺し子が嫌いだったからこそ今があり、また抗い続けたからこそ、今お伝えできる話が沢山あるんだろうと思います。「刺し子の本質は記録よりも記憶に存在するのでは」と、偶然に配信の中で出てきた表現ですが、声に出してみたり頭の中で繰り返して見れば見るほど、真実に近いのではないかと思うようになっています。もちろん、「記録」の大切さは言うまでもありません。記憶は常に主観的で、今の曖昧さを排除する生き方の中では存在価値は大きくない為、誰もがみて納得できる記録に、なんとか記憶を転換する必要があります。ただ、それは単純な方程式で導き出すことができるものじゃなく、記憶があることを前提とした物語を共有することによって形になるんじゃないかと思っています。
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計らずしも今日の配信、なんだかんだで個人的に思う名言が飛び出しています（笑）久々に自分でも聞き直す配信になりそうです。平均値（中央値）としての文化と、記憶としての刺し子。さてさて。どうやって英語で紹介できるのだろうかね。
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写真は約13年ほど前に古布の小さなハギレを繋ぎ合わせて、当時の自分のデニムに上から縫い付けたものです。批判も沢山ありましたが、よく履いたデニムの一本です（今は太りすぎて履けないですが…）。もう13年以上にもなるんだなぁ。
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#Sashiko #SashikoDenim #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #刺し子デニム

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