Masashi Nozaki key visual

Masashi Nozaki/野崎 真志

Masashi Nozaki portrait

TOKITO — The 540-day Journey of a Culinary Maverick

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Michelin-starred chef Yoshinori Ishii and his team set out to transform a historic Japanese inn into the premier Tokyo destination for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience, incorporating all aspects of traditional Japanese cuisine.

  • Director: Aki Mizutani
  • Producer: Masashi Nozaki
  • Cinematographer: Matt de Sousa
  • Music: Midori Hirano
  • Cast: Yoshinori Ishii, Kenji Okawara
  • Year: 2024 · Runtime: 84 min

Festivals / Selections

    Palm Springs International Film Festival Award Sydney International Film Festival Award Warsaw International Film Festival Award

TANAGOKORO — A Culinary Portrait

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When Japanese chef Yoshinori Ishii is dismayed by the quality of fish in London, he investigates why. Through skill, ethics and passion, he helps catalyze a shift in handling practices—sharing techniques such as ikejime with fishers and communities.

  • Directors: Victoria Fistes, Masashi Nozaki
  • Producers: Victoria Fistes, Masashi Nozaki
  • Writer: Victoria Fistes, Masashi Nozaki
  • DOP: John Janssens
  • Editor: Charlie Emseis
  • Composer: James Jones
  • Cast: Yoshinori Ishii
  • Year: 2021 · Runtime: 32 min

Festivals / Selections

    Nashville Film Festival Award Hawaii International Film Festival Award Rhode Island International Film Festival Award

THE KIJISHI : Ryozo Kawakita

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In Yamanaka, Ishikawa, Japan — renowned for over a thousand years of woodcraft — Ryozo Kawakita became the first woodturning artist to be honored as a Living National Treasure. Devoted to restoring treasures from the Shosoin Repository, he carries Japan’s heritage forward as the head of the nation’s only three-generation woodturning family. This film captures how his works come to life, revealing the philosophy behind his craft, the depth of Japanese lacquer, and the spirit of legacy he shares with his son Hirohiko and grandson Hiroshi. What unfolds is not merely technique, but the very essence of Japanese culture passed through generations.

  • Director: Masashi Nozaki
  • Producer: Masashi Nozaki
  • DOP: Christoph Gelep, Joji Asaoka
  • Editor: Takashi Fujioka
  • Cast: Ryozo Kawakita, Hirohiko Kawakita, Hiroshi Kawakita
  • Year: 2024 · Runtime: 27 min

SARYO SOMAMICHI — Rediscover Your Humanity

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At “Saryo Somamichi,” the cuisine is unmistakably Japanese. The chef himself roams the mountains, seas, and rivers of Noto in search of ingredients that can only be found in that fleeting moment. Each dish is prepared with the deepest gratitude and respect, elevated into a work of art. This film captures those gestures — the making of food, the crafting of objects — revealing how cuisine and craft breathe as one, and how the land of Noto and its people weave their story together.

  • Producer: Masashi Nozaki
  • Director: Masashi Nozaki, Joji Asaoka
  • DOP: Joji Asaoka, Christoph Gelep

HOKKAIDO TERROIR — A Journey with Lionel Beccat

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A journey with Lionel Beccat unfolds across the landscapes of Hokkaido, where mountains breathe, rivers trace the passage of time, and the seasons reveal their many faces. In these moments, the resonance of nature and human life comes alive, as the terroir of Hokkaido speaks through the enduring rhythm of life. Ultimately, all of this is drawn together by Beccat’s artistic sensibility, culminating in a dish of sublime expression.

  • Cast: Lionel Beccat
  • Director: Masashi Nozaki
  • DOP: Joji Asaoka

Philanthropic Arsnova — Noto Charity Event

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In January 2024, a powerful earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula, leaving deep scars on the lives and landscapes of the region. Amid the devastation, a group of chefs came together to take action. For the sake of the community and its children, they organized cooking classes and outdoor events. Through food, people gathered once again — and smiles and warmth began to return. Food has the power to connect people and revitalize communities. This initiative stands as a symbol of hope born in the disaster area, and a testament to the power of “food” to nurture renewal and healing.

  • Producer: Masashi Nozaki
  • Director: Masashi Nozaki
  • DOP: Nik van der Giesen
  • Editor: Yuhei Okamoto

Contact

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