Japan encompasses a spectrum of experiences, ranging from the highly desirable to the less favorable. At the outer bounds of the desirable lies the art of mending what is broken and sentimental—Kintsugi, or golden joinery.

In this week’s companion video, five minutes are packed with exquisite beauty that fills me with memories, serving as a reminder of why I lived in Japan for so long.

The video’s introduction sets the tone:

“All things are created and destined to be broken someday.

I think being broken or damaged is never a bad thing.

All of us develop scars throughout our lives. But these scars should never be hidden.

Our imperfections can be the birth of something new.

I think our broken parts can be mended. We should never give up on life.”
— Hiroki Kiyokawa

As we embark on another new year, my hope is that we can all contemplate what is broken in our lives, striving to join the pieces back together and embracing the imperfections.

This week’s photo is a subtle tribute, a private reminder that as 2024 unfolds, it is filled with gratitude for the long-lost preciousness that time has graciously restored. There’s a certain beauty in recognizing, much like the art of Kintsugi, that which was all asunder can be rendered more beautiful than the original. The beauty of the experience continues to be heartwarming.

And now… know the photograph.