First Anniversary Special:
The Man Behind the Knife – An Intimate Interview with Chef Masa
Beyond the confines of his culinary sanctuary, Chef Masa reveals himself as an intoxicating paradox. The measured precision of his knife work gives way to an insatiable thirst for life’s pleasures.
“I drink anything,” he confesses with a mischievous glint, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. “Sake, whisky, wine… the liberation of spirits mirrors the freedom I seek in creation.”
Those lucky enough to encounter Masa after hours speak of a transformation—his starched chef’s whites exchanged for casual attire that hints at the passionate soul beneath the professional veneer.
When night blankets Singapore, Chef Masa prowls the city’s hidden culinary corners with primal hunger. His exploration of local flavours becomes almost carnal—each taste, texture, and aroma absorbed into his being with intense focus.
“I am constantly devouring inspiration,” he admits, running fingers through disheveled hair. “It’s an addiction… this need to consume knowledge, to feel the pulse of different culinary traditions against my own.”
His relentless pursuit of mastery manifests in midnight experiments, where tradition and innovation couple in a dance of delicious tension.
The distance between Tokyo and Singapore disappears in Chef Masa’s capable hands. Like a skilled lover, he coaxes the essence of Japan into each creation, yet adapts to the unique desires of his new home. “Bringing Japan to Singapore isn’t about rigid replication,” he murmurs, leaning close as if sharing a delicious secret.
“It’s about capturing the soul, the spirit… then letting it merge with what excites here.” This cross-cultural seduction plays out in his menu, where traditional Japanese techniques embrace local sensibilities in a tantalisingly harmonious union.
Those fortunate enough to share a drink with Chef Masa discover a man unleashed from the ceremonial restraint of omakase service. His laughter flows freely, his stories spill uninhibited, and his passion for life blazes uncontained. “At Sushi Masa, I give you perfection,” he smiles, eyes holding yours with magnetic intensity.
“But after hours? I give you truth.” It’s this raw authenticity that makes him irresistible—a man whose mastery extends beyond the confines of his counter, whose appetite for life matches his hunger for culinary excellence, and whose presence lingers like the perfect umami finish on the palate of memory.
