Japanese spirit

Washing, washing…

Oh!

Breaking!!

Oh no…

While washing the dished after dinner, I accidentally broke a mug.

It was a precious mug for me because it was a gift from my first host mother when I came to Australia.

I loved it so much that it was a huge shock when I broke it.

However, I can’t do anything for it.

It was the time to say goodbye…

When I was gathering up the broken parts to dispose of them, Father and the children came over after hearing the noise.

Father:
What happened?

I told him that I broke a mug while washing. And then,

Father:
I can fix it!
It’s your treasure, right?

I never told him who gave me the mug. However, the mug was written a message on the bottom so they would know that it was precious mug for me.

Father immediately went to garage and brought out a super glue.

The children also said they fix it so they gather around a table.

Checking which parts go where, they carefully attach them together, making sure there are no mistakes or misalignments.

DONE!!

In fact, a small part on the edge of the cup was missing, so the mug was not completely restored to its original state.

However, because it was a precious mug for me, they repaired it as much as they could.

After that, Father asked us,

Do you know “Kintsugi”?
It’s a Japanese beautiful culture.

Of course, children didn’t know and I also didn’t know about Kintsugi.

Therefore, Father showed us a movie introducing Kintsugi and explained it to us.

The broken things become more beautiful things by repaired.

Until now, I had thought that once a plate broke, that was the end of it, however, a new value came here.

I was moved to see that the Japanese spirit of valuing things was being transmitted across the ocean in this way.

My host family who repaired so hard for me.

My precious mug which restored to its original shape.

It was a night that warmed my heart.