Sakura Diamond -- a manifestation of that contradiction, of fleeting beauty , yet eternal

Our relationship has been one of sharing and supporting one another's past, present, and future. I strove to provide her a　sanctuary to safely and comfortably cultivate a career, home, and friendships in a new land, while she strengthened and　transformed my relationship with my own heritage - something I never thought I would ever reconnect with.

When we started　dating, she had just arrived in Canada, and I had just graduated from university, and we were both just finding our footing in　the weird new working world during the pandemic. However, it was really through music (and karaoke!) that we first really bonded. Because of our relationship, both of us tried things that we otherwise would never have tried and gone to places we would　never have gone, and now, we are set to embark on another great adventure together. I found in her not only a life partner, but also a best friend.

So for various reasons, the story of the red thread is relatable; our meeting seemed to be a confluence of uncanny　coincidences and the few years since then have simultaneously felt so much shorter and longer than it really has been. So、when we came across Mokumeganeya, at a time when we were set to be in Japan together for the first time, and saw the Sakura Diamond -- a manifestation of that contradiction, of fleeting beauty , yet eternal -- I thought it was a perfect encapsulation of that oxymoronic feeling.

Thank you to Shay, the talented craftsmen, and the rest of the folks at Mokumeganeya for making this a truly unique and special experience.