Mary Taguchi

Mary Taguchi, BA, DipEd (Syd), GradDip (Tokyo) has a long involvement in language teaching in Australia (LOTE) and Japan (ESL). After teaching for many years at a bi-lingual international school in Tokyo, Mary has concentrated on language education in primary schools in Australia. This has involved the establishment and administration of Japanese language courses with texts and resources for each situation. Her latest scheme, 'OHISAMA . . . connect!" combines language, directions and culture for teachers and children; her methodology operates from a clear framework onto which to attach and connect activities and resources for experience-based education. Hand in hand with such education, she has been the organizer and leader of numerous educational ventures to and from Japan - specifically for primary school children and staff at language and school connection levels.

Additionally, Mary has worked for more than 20 years with craftsmen involved in the continuing Mingei tradition of Japan. Her specific interest is indigo-dyed cotton textiles, an area that involves a wide range of dyeing techniques; and furthermore, countless meanings of patterns, history, symbolism and hundreds of blues. It was the country wear she discovered, in its rich blue cottons - for farmers, workmen, craftsmen - that brought her attention to the small bolts of cloth (38cm x 11.8m) and from there a long and fascinating journey began. The meaning of work jackets, sleeve lengths, field pants and how these garments were produced deftly and economically from the narrow cloth, led her to more and more ideas for our life in Australia and how these cloths and patterns could be adapted and utilized.

The blend of "form and function", the underlying notion to 'mingei', is very much part of the thought behind both Mary's language methodology and her indigo-dyed textile uses.