Letter from Japan #2
Hello from Japan!
A few days ago, we visited a small summer festival at a local show home. It wasn’t a large event, but it was full of fun activities for families to enjoy together.
One workshop immediately caught my ten year old daughter’s eye. She had the chance to make her own pen by choosing colourful beads and tiny ornaments. One by one, she carefully threaded each piece onto the slim metal rod inside the pen until she had created a design that was entirely her own.
As I watched her carefully thread each bead and tiny ornament onto the pen, I realised she was むちゅう (muchuu).
In Japanese, むちゅう (muchuu) means to be completely absorbed in what you’re doing. There was no rushing and no distractions. She was simply enjoying the process of creating something with her own hands.
The pen she created was 手作り (てづくり, tezukuri), meaning handmade. Because she chose every decoration herself, it became オリジナル (orijinaru), an original design that no one else in the world has.
Watching her reminded me that making something yourself gives it a special kind of value. It isn’t about creating something perfect. It’s about expressing yourself and creating something that is uniquely yours.
Perhaps that’s why handmade things often feel so precious. They carry a little piece of the person who made them.
A question for you
When was the last time you were むちゅう (muchuu), so absorbed in what you were doing that you forgot about everything else?
If you’re curious
The pen workshop was run by COCO MIGNON, a Japanese handmade artist who creates colourful, one of a kind (オリジナル, orijinaru) accessories and hosts craft workshops.
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coco_mignon.0228/
If you ever visit a local market or community event in Japan, keep an eye out for 手作り (tezukuri) workshops. They’re a wonderful way to make something with your own hands and take home a truly original keepsake.
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A free letter from Japan with photos, stories and a few Japanese words to discover.