verb. to be broken, to come to nothing

My cop out for an entry today.

So I was gonna write about how maybe we were brought into this life to break like a Noritake or Royal Doulton teacup breaking over usage. Ok well most of us are the 1.00 Daiso Made in China brand chanoyu teacups, but it’s good to dream... And it makes sense that maybe some of us were made sturdier than others, and instead of tea, we become the white rice scooper over time...

And then I remember the stupid foreign word inspiration bullsh*t that became popular for a short period, especially kintsugi. 金継ぎ for those that want to know the kanji for it. As a backstory, PC [PreCovid] 2010-2019, I used to be a sort of tour guide taking groups of people (10-24 pax) to Japan for 3+ weeks at a time every summer and sometimes spring. And I eff*ng remember that time when my contact at JTB or HIS suggested, “Oh, 〇〇san. Why don’t you take your group to try kintsugi? It’s so popular right now.” I actually asked her how many of these activity places were authentic kintsugi practicing places, and she had to get back to me, but she said none. But being Japanese, she researched and found one place that charged over $200-$300 per person to watch (not do, but watch) an actual artisan in Kanazawa show his skill and take home a small keychain that his wife made and he gilded with gold lacquer.

It made me sad how people are so ready to buy into these stupid culturally appropriated fads, and you can’t blame the countries for providing it. But do you think the true artisans that spent their whole lives practicing their art really want to show the easy way of doing something for $30-40 per person? And there may be some, but I bet you most of these places just hire someone for minimum wage to satisfy these stupid fad cravings at a completely separate location or building where the actual artisans work at.

So I said “〇〇san, thanks but no thanks. Just sign us up for the $10 komorebi 木漏れ日 hiking tour.” 🙄

Image not my own but found online.