We recently connected with Masa Endo and have shared our conversation below.

Masa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

I am very happy with my growing up in the ordinary middle class family in Japan. One of the very important life lessons in Japanese culture is called “mottainai” that translates literally “what a waste!” It implies the situation of when a thing or food not being used or eaten fully and thrown into trash or garbage.
When I started working at a private club where all the members are affluent and acclaimed, I had no idea how the rich people spend money. Moreover, to my ignorance, they are mostly more modest and caring for others. It was quite opposite of my thoughts before working at the club. They understand and find more value in whatever they can. I realized I need to practice more “mottainai” concept. .

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Masa Endo. I am Omotenashi Sushi Artisan of Warakuya BOX.
I come to the client’s house or a venue they are having their event and prepare sushi for them. So I am a private sushi chef.
Omotenashi means the highest form of hospitality in Japanese. I create menu based on the client’s requests and needs. And I curate and execute the dinner in the most enjoyable way for the clients and their guests with the given circumstances.
I use the best ingredients available and process and deliver the job with love.

The menu is either omakase (chef’s choice dinner) or family style dinner. Occasionally I do a sushi station for a catering event.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I had an opportunity to work in an acclaimed private club and prepared sushi for the members. Gradually I could gain the recognitions and reputation among the members through my daily efforts and opportunities to provide special dinners.
Today, with my appreciation, the members from the club are my main clients and their recommendations to their friends are helping me book more dinners.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

To start with myself.
I treat my team with respect and appreciation as if they are a mirror that reflects my own behavior.
just like you would work on your own face with cosmetics if you want to see a beautiful reflection.
If you focus on changing the team without reflecting on yourself, it is like working on the figure in the reflection to change without working on your own face.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://masasushichef.wixsite.com/warakuyabox
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warakuya_box/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masa-endo-4a23514a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/vsFfajcKC9

Image Credits

Masa Endo