this is masa takayama.spected sushi chef would be an injustice, as he is more than that. much more. what was it about him that set him apart, took him from a rather bleak farming community in rural japan to become first the toast of los angeles and later the king of new york? it is a fascinating story. kanazawa is the capital of ishikawa prefecture on the west coast of honshu island along the sea of japan. it's known for its untouched by time traditional districts -- one of the few cities in japan left relatively intact throughout the war. it's famous for its crafts, for its beautiful ceramics in particular, but also its artistic sensibility. the way it always valued beautiful things, traditions. it's a city that helped masa, then at a crossroads, to discover a whole new world of grace, of aesthetics, of style, that affected him deeply. for most, however, kanazawa is simply a place with great seafood. >> masa: this is the kitchen of the, uh, kanazawa city. >> anthony: yeah? >> masa: this market is. >> antho