How Sushi Legend Masa Designs Each Dish - Immersed

Welcome to IMMERSED, where we dive into the world of individuals so dedicated to their food-related passions and hobbies that one might even call them obsessed.
In this episode, we discover that Masa Takayama, one of the world’s greatest sushi chefs, has been quietly designing the plates for his restaurant Tetsu for the past twenty years. Chef Masa has been doing this unbeknownst to many of his customers, and he writes his ideas on paper towel rolls, which he always carries with him.
We sat down with Chef Masa at Tetsu in Tribeca to learn about how he draws inspiration from the food he cooks, and how he pictures it on the perfect plate. Then, we followed him to Masa Designs, his storage unit in Chelsea, to explore the hundreds of handmade plates, drinkware, and cutlery he houses there.
Watch Next: Learn how Chef Masa cooks at home -- • How 3 Michelin Star Su...
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[@shieldren]

I was shooketh by the design studio. Damn. This guy is a bona fide artist

[@shieldren]

@bboyenergetic yeah I'm using millennial speak/slang. Nothing wrong with that.

[@shieldren]

@bboyenergetic in this context I wasn't implying shock. Let's just let this matter rest

[@Juan-nz1gu]

Sup singaporean too

[@CarlosSanchez-en6mr]

Some of the plates look like a high school kid who dosent want to be in ceramics did it Most of his plates were ass and the whole ‘draw out the food beforehand’ totally unnecessary Some of the white plates at the end looked kinda good thoe

[@shieldren]

@@Juan-nz1gu sup

[@sh3n3ng]

it's like his cooking skill tree is maxed, so he used excess skill point for pottery.

[@dmnxCGi]

KW That's exactly what it is

[@yellowchino3883]

Ahh RuneScape I see, good times

[@NateDogg-kn5uj]

Lmao

[@CraigalFun]

LMAO

[@obscureclouds8392]

If you think, like me, this is the best explanation for this, you play too much video games. :)

[@davidkwak1020]

I can relate to almost everything that masa is saying. I am a full-time potter myself and the food that I envision is a major force into how the vessel is created. The road to designing a new line of work is such a grueling and long process. I can only respect Masa for doing this as well as immersing himself in cooking.

[@hxtsu1709]

This chef can do so many things... from Japanese 3 star cuisine... to turning leftovers into a phenomenal dish... to giving his own delicious take on burgers... and now he can make plates?????

[@FlipNasty1]

3 star?

[@Ellyasveil]

@@FlipNasty1 chef masa has 3 michelin star

[@Filetamerican]

@@FlipNasty1 Sukkel

[@FlipNasty1]

Isn't 5 star the best

[@FlipNasty1]

@James Franko haha learn something new every year

[@spiritparty]

dude this video was so sick, its like a guitar player making his own strings

[@TrollzonedHD]

God I love his vision, his passion. It goes beyond aesthetics, beyond taste. Hes more than just a multimedia chef, to him the act of cooking and sculpting isnt two seperate mediums. It's one essence

[@SaintDre7]

Metaphorically speaking each plate is a unique time travel device for him.

[@CraigalFun]

I can totally relate to that. It's nice to look back and reflect!

[@curacao7546]

I like seeing chefs who's life is entirely dedicated towards cooking and their food, as it can show the love that has become immersed in every dish...

[@PiggyChop]

This was fascinating to watch. More like this!!! I love the documentary style videos keep them coming!

[@static8051]

This guy has so much passion for his craft I love it, what a guy.

[@joonwolf6817]

When u reach 99 cooking so you decide to go for 99 crafting

[@jwlevay93]

up next, 99 farming

[@fiapritchard905]

Masa just walking around with a scroll... I will never NOT be impressed with this guy

[@coronaman8046]

are you being sarcastic or you just a dumb ass???

[@theshapeexists]

@@coronaman8046 you have a problem with him giving a compliment? Reread his post dude.

[@Emirrpapir]

@@coronaman8046 Actual moron

[@everstar9181]

corona man he gave a compliment to him why u mad?

[@zes7215]

wrr

[@bonesmaan]

This man calms me down immensely.

[@kuro-san9109]

I was very pleased watching this high

[@pieguywithafry]

His tactile abilities are tantalizing to the senses

[@Atlas9766]

Kuro-san me 2

[@awildgrendel7148]

Afflictionzv1 was he bragging?

[@vk-br1dr]

@Afflictionzv1 who are you to dictate what he/she should or shouldn't be doing. lol

[@stevenc7877]

same

[@voidless0646]

Anything with Masa on this channel is great!

[@maxhaibara8828]

So this dude is even more legend than what's in my mind so far...

[@inuyashaspet]

I thought he was just making hodgepodge one-offs with the mallets and strong movements, but seeing the stacks of identical plates at the end shows how amazingly consistent and exact he is.

[@romanticbaldy]

This is art on a different level. I have no words to describe this man.

[@BigWolsky]

Masa and Anthony Bourdain seemed to have a pretty close friendship. Miss that guy. More than showing us amazing food he taught us instead how to interact with different cultures and people. Lots of good life lessons. Masa is a legend. Great video

[@Btossman123]

Amazing, thank you for burning your light, life and soul into this world.

[@Lowcountryyankee]

I want a scroll of that crinkly paper towel! So inspired. I love artists without borders.

[@jonaqwerty]

Master Masa is simply a GENIUS!

[@swagman8356]

*slaps top of rock plate* The pioneers used to ride these babies for miles

[@s0ulb0und]

That scroll contain Forbidden Jutsus that he himself invented. When he is alone and forming ideas, sometimes he use secret summoning jutsu to summon his spirit animal to guide him in his artistic journey. He is the Hidden Leaf's hidden chef Hokage.

[@DarkandSilentSky]

The imperfections of the plate actually make them perfect. Totally agree, it gives them a characteristic of uniqueness that cannot be replicated compared to the perfect edged, perfected rounded plates. Masa is a true artist

[@MrTurtleThief]

I'm always most impressed by artists who are involved in many different art forms, especially if they factor into the art they deliver. If you're a recording artist, it's very impressive when you have a vision for not just the music, but the fashion, cinematography, marketing strategy, etc. and are able to play a hands-on role in acting on that vision. In the same vein, Masa is probably involved in every aspect of his restaurant experience. It's always nice to be inspired by these kinds of people.

[@matthewjohnson4583]

"8 years ago I made this?!?!" The look of astonishment on his face is priceless

[@Dannydrinkbottom]

This why I love KZbin. Seeing videos like these. So inspirational.

[@LegoMiEggo]

Wouldn’t want to be the server that drops any of those plates 😂

[@zes7215]

no such thign as dropx or not, cepux, do any nmw s perfx

[@chiakelvin7381]

This chef is at another level man... He's an artist

[@philiq18]

He literally creates each "dish". Amazing.

[@qanh96]

This man is the embodiment of cooking being a consumable art form.

[@pfl95]

Love that it's the same assistant as the previous video he was featured in lmao that guy's super handy

[@Crimithy]

Best video munchies has ever produced. Well done guys, more like this template.

[@glynislailann9056]

I am gobsmacked! It will be difficult to find another artist like him who conveys his art in cooking right to the vessels he serves it in. Like in karate, he has Zanchjin. Respect 🙏

[@xinwang1927]

How is this guy 65 already !!?? Man's looking like he's in his 40s

[@lafemmerowena]

I love this! it inspires me. its zen as well. makes me want to be more than i am. makes me want to learn. and remind me i cant say i will do this one day when am half 66 now. haha!

[@theyrenihilists]

I can watch people talk about what they're passionate about for hours on end. I love this video.

[@winfriedbauer2280]

Not all people are equal! There are levels, and Mr Takayama is Top Level! Very inspiring!

[@sahil.b]

Only one thing that comes in my mind: thank you chef masa for inspiring us!

[@thomplth]

The music is so amazing...and fitting perfectly

[@sayantanmitra335]

Omg he is not just a chef, he is an artist O_O

[@Dannydrinkbottom]

The ideas before his meals are absolutely brilliant.

[@nirvana613]

What a happy and fulfilled human being excelling at what makes him special

[@shaffiqmokhtar351]

that was a very beautiful video man... love it... the food and the design really really cool... keep it up

[@yourdadsotherfamily3530]

As a chef I loveeeeee Masa content. He is so driven by creativity and strive for something beautiful but different every time he takes a crack at it. Now only if I could afford his omakase 🤥

[@gngrrvwz7656]

Wow what an incredibly inspiring story. Beautiful.

[@amitupadhya90]

Munchies got to be the best ever KZbin channel I’ve subscribed to

[@XpRnz]

It’s cool that all the plates he designed also form a library of triggers to nostalgic memories from the time when he made them. I think very similar to what music does!

[@rolandomota2316]

This man is an artist a legend and a philosopher. His way of thinking is amazing.

[@AB-up2bm]

Man I love his sense for art

[@eaglessixersfankeepingitre3247]

Masa is a mad scientist, but a meticulous mad scientist with every detail.

[@se7encureton]

A living legend of all the arts You ever felt like you met someone and you are friends but you have never met? That’s how I feel towards this man

[@JoseSanchez-jp6ot]

This was an amazing watch I would pay good money for a meal from him just for how much time and care he puts into his dishes.

[@rejoicedeciar7663]

So satisfying to watch 😎 that's a far beyond level of passion

[@alexwightman7220]

Masa has a very creative mind! Very cool to see his art and designs

[@watchingyourvideo8029]

5:37 when the eye oozes out of the fish

[@earlj.d.6285]

His sketch scroll needs to be placed in a museum. I can see an entire exhibit containing his sketches, his ceramics (is that the term?) and photos of the final product

[@seattlelife2224]

This man is genius at what he do, just born with extraordinary talent

[@TradingFeline]

This chef makes the dishes and the DISHES

[@3thanwong]

Hi!, your video is great this is nice. I am saving this!

[@hacksawjack9596]

I mean I love food and cooking but this dude takes it to another level

[@gsrox2007]

Magnificent!

[@gsent56]

Genius way to elevate the food experience.

[@Ellyasveil]

This is so beautiful...

[@kevinGvue]

Truly an art form!

[@charlestupper5480]

He is definitely a master.

[@carloscontreras6995]

His artistic eye is amazing.

[@palapentz6471]

soo inspiring!!!

[@flymykim]

THIS MAN IS A GENIUS. Not because he's so talented at drawing, uses a knife so well or makes fundamentally beautiful pottery (all of which crafts clearly display the amount of time and effort he has invested into). but because of the vision he plans out and executes. Such a gift to hear him describe the process and even where he finds inspiration. Gem.

[@flymykim]

"each dish is not the same shape, of course not. there not any mold--hold my hand.... each piece is different in character--that's the beautiful stuff." Referring to not the pottery itself but the artists' rendition of the finished meal. Sushi, accompaniments and the actual serving dish sent back to him from the sketches he sends over to them, in the form of a finalized image for the *menu item. Amazing. How did he evolve the experience for his fucking MENU to this level?

[@flymykim]

What sorts of questions were even asked by the interviewer to get this response out of him. Amazing subject great interviewer. And then the fucking timing on that camera work and sound engineering. Goddamn.

[@flymykim]

I love how he immediately overcompensates by instantly producing a dish that has more polish and more importantly positive feedback for the camera. You manipulative fucks at munchies. No way a man this intuitive/perceptive could possibly be free of insecurities and yet at moments you can see he is so authentically confident--victorious. You see the method to the madness, the reason for the commitment.

[@flymykim]

0 surprises that masa finds the compulsion to take each part of his design process so fully into his own hands. How many times his ego must have been hurt by fucking half-clever wannabe hacks? sometimes you just wish the worst....

[@avalonmdath7869]

Love this man .

[@rorytrue2835]

This guy is so cool. Realy liked him in that Anthony Bourdain episode. Seem like a realy nice guy who enjoys himself.

[@chowturtlezpabus]

Chef? This person's an artist!

[@ozanbaytek]

Not only chef. He is awsome artist!!

[@1w2qqswa]

Passion makes extraordinary things.

[@iscorechicks]

An artist, Genius, Visionary.

[@andrewbudd7368]

One of the best on earth.

[@nodrama490]

True master of his craft

[@eduardosarmiento8985]

Nice!!!!

[@iAseel95]

To the one who edit this video you’re a genius and have a great taste in music. I hope you share with us the names of the songs

[@maniswolftoman]

I know chefs that make everything on their menu from scratch, I know chefs that choose to not have prepared ingredients in any of their dishes, I know chefs that demand of their cooks control of every ingredient in every dish. But running a three-Michelin star restaurant while firing clay yourself is simply unbelievable.

[@LowellAlvarez]

When he said “Such a beautiful dish” he also meant the actual dish itself.

[@Winning-Mindset01]

Insane!

[@sjkillen6555]

how can someone dislike this?

[@lostuser1094]

Masa’s a guy who is living life properly

[@flamuralaj3302]

Masa is so cool.

[@judyisozaki]

Beautiful! I love s6hibui! What an amazing7 artist in all respects!

[@MrKinghuman]

Japanese chefs don’t even really “cook”. Yet they’re more fascinating to watch than a traditional chef creating complex sauces and such. There’s one where this guy actually “cooks” for his home food and he’s like jus fucking throw that shit together and make it up as you go. Don’t think to much. Love it.

[@denhus2905]

Is no one going to talk about the fish eye drooping out at 5:36 ?

[@YahBoiDrip]

You gotta remember: It was all in his plan.

[@jacksonchen7916]

michelin star people: wow raw eyeball dropping right next to dish so random, masterpiece, a star

[@3mrsx]

8:46 Telling my mom next time I crack a dish

[@DJayFres]

Genius 💯❗

[@hiNate]

The legend of bona fide artist this guy.

[@ryanle1293]

When the title said dish, i didn't think they meant literally a dish

[@achannel1818]

More chef Masa!

[@TheWutangclan1995]

It's amazing how he's able to draw, doodle, sketch, and write on that one roll of paper effortlessly. I would easily rip through it from the tip of the pencil hooking onto a small part of the paper.

[@RizaldoMullings]

The paper towel roll is his version of a sacred scroll.

[@kurozanovski]

Ultimate simplicity leads to purity

[@todamoon9187]

Talented

[@myob94]

That one guy in the lobby that keeps switching between his cooking and crafting master capes

[@sostrong123]

So now I need one of those dishes!

[@Munchies]

same.