Kuala Lampur, Dec. 3 -- Recently, during a trip to Fukuoka, Japan, my host Kondou sensei took me to a modest restaurant in the historical town of Dazaifu.

We sat near the front window, which opened onto a small Zen garden.

At first glance, it looked serene: a few stones scattered across the moss, shrubs growing along the edges, gentle sunlight casting soft shadows over the ground.

But as I looked closer, the garden began to feel. uneven. The moss grew in patches, the stones were not arranged with obvious symmetry, and the shrubs seemed almost carelessly trimmed.

I found myself puzzled. The Japanese are known for their meticulousness, especially in their gardens. How could they overlook something so central to the dining experience?

A...