Have you ever broken something of value? Maybe you broke your favorite coffee mug, a bone in your body, a family heirloom, a garage window, an appliance in your home. Alternatively, maybe what was ...

This Nov. 11, 2018 photo shows an example of Kintsugi at the Kuge Crafts workshop in Tokyo. Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese method of repairing broken pottery with gold that creates a new work of art.

If you search online for “kintsugi,” most of what you’ll find in English is self-help advice that uses this Japanese craft as a jumping-off point. The idea of repairing broken pottery in a way that ...