Read This Now: | Kintsugi Wellness

The Japanese word kintsugi translates literally as golden (“kin”) repair (“ tsgui”). It refers to the centuries-old Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with liquid gold or gold-dusted lacquer. In addition to honoring the history of the object, these visible cracks make the object even more valuable and unique than it was in its unbroken form.

“Your hardest challenges, deepest wounds, and greatest fears are actually among the most beautiful, precious, and admirable parts of you.”

In her new book, Kintsugi Wellness: The Japanese Art of Nourishing Mind, Body, and Spirit, chef and wellness expert Candice Kumai beautifully illustrates how we can apply the same principle to our own lives. “Kintsugi is life’s way of saying, ‘nobody’s perfect.’ The path is not straight,” writes Kumai. “In fact, your hardest challenges, deepest wounds, and greatest fears are actually among the most beautiful, precious, and admirable parts of you.”

In addition to sharing how the principles that have shaped Japanese culture for centuries can inform and enhance modern living, Kumai devotes a generous portion of her book to a seriously mouthwatering spread of Japanese-inspired recipes—perfect for meal prep and entertaining alike. But whether you pick this one up for the food, the philosophies or the glimpse into Japanese life, you won’t be disappointed.