huh, tony? anthony: beautiful. when you first went to the u.s., how old were you? masa: 27. yaeko: 27? [ speaking japanese ] masa: yeah. yeah. anthony: did you have a job when you went? masa: no. for play golf. [ laughter ] anthony: no way. masa: yeah. the thing is, when i was a kid you know, art class? the teacher told me that american kids, they when they draw outside, just flat, straight line, house, tree, sun. huge, huge land. anthony: that s true. masa: japanese kids will do just mountains first. the house, right? the sun. i wanted to go u.s. to see huge land. that s my, you know, dream, you know? anthony: grilled rockfish made houraku style, steamed in smoking wormwood. masa: good fish, right? anthony: very good. bamboo shoots and wagyu beef prepared tableside with soy sauce and mirin. masa: mmm! anthony: oh, that s fantastic.
before fish, i m gonna burn up. anthony: so him first. [ laughter ] masa: don t hurry. good food takes long time. anthony: so this big argument with the spanish. big argument. is umami a flavor or a sensation? masa: umami is essence. strong essence. anthony: so it s a mysterious force. masa: yeah, much bigger than the universe. anthony: bigger than flavor? masa: of course. this vegetable is called fukinoto. under the ground, covered in snow. cold. then, little by little, it opens up like that. this is first sign of spring. we appreciate that. anthony: how do you cook this? masa: grill, fried, or braise it. i m gonna grill it, little bit of oil, then a little bit of salt. this is so happy, the phases. so happy. they re going to be cooked this way.
that passion makes me change. [ speaking japanese ] izakura: [ speaking japanese ] masa: yeah, that s it. good. yeah, beautiful. done. anthony: when do you make the drawings for the ceramic that you want? masa: when you re drinking. anthony: when you re drinking? masa: yeah, right. so many times, huh? izakura: yeah, yeah. anthony: eating and drinking. and drawing. masa: yeah, always. he teaches me a lot of stuff. anthony: so, when you re in new york, and the ceramics come, do you ever go, what the masa: what happened. anthony: i don t remember. masa: i get pissed. anthony: your design, man. masa: exactly. anthony: 90 minutes southeast of kanazawa is a mountainous region known as yamanaka onsen, and it looks unlike any place i ve ever been in japan.
in the maitakes and the shiitakes and some tochigi beef and enjoy the day. masa: this is what i do.qwz beautiful, right? anthony: oh yeah. this is going to be good. masa: yeah, more, more, more, more, more. more, more, more, more, more, more, more yeah, yeah. good, good, good. anthony: nice eggs. masa: beautiful eggs. so good. see? that s what i like. outside, especially outside it tastes better, much better. anthony: everything tastes better outside. masa: exactly, exactly. anthony: so how long have you known these guys? masa: uh, since, since high school. anthony: high school. masa: high school, yeah, which is what? 44 years. anthony: 44 years. masa: yeah, it s a long time. huh? [ laughter ] anthony: how does he remember you in high school? who was the best student, who was the worst student here? masa: he s the best student. anthony: best student. masa: these guys, the three guys, the three of us were the worst. anthony: the three of you were ba
the coals, radiating its sweet aroma as it cooks. look at that. masa: yeah. anthony: so how long have you all known each other? how many years? masa: 30 years. right? we know each other. i love this kind of cooking, you know? it s the way i like. anthony: wow. masa: be careful, though. it s hot, though. anthony: oh, yeah. masa: mm! anthony: wow, it s sweet. masa: [ speaking japanese ] konishi: [ speaking japanese ] anthony: izura, freshly caught local quail, is rubbed with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and lightly glazed with that homemade soy. masa: [ speaking japanese ] anthony: oh, wow. masa: how is it, good? anthony: that is good. mm. masa: this kind of charcoal slow cooking gives this kind of flavor, soft, juicy. how s the fish? konishi: [ speaking japanese ] [ laughter ] masa: you know what he said?