One of America's most celebrated Japanese chefs, three Michelin-starred chef Masayoshi “Masa†Takayama continues to set high standards, consistently delivering memorable dining experiences while pursuing new directions for Japanese dining in America. In each new restaurant venture and in every life activity Masa strives to balance his commitment to tradition and excellence with his artist's desire to explore and innovate. His culinary creations exemplify the Japanese notion of kaiseki—the art form that seeks to discover and express a natural balance of taste, texture, appearance and color of food.