Returning to the Origins of Dim Sum — Learning Skill, Principle, and Heart
Dim sum is a lifelong journey of exploration, with no final destination. After more than forty years devoted to this craft, I have finally come to understand its essence.
At the foundation of all creation lies an underlying principle. To contemplate that principle, to face each ingredient sincerely, to refine one’s technique, and to pour one’s heart into the work — only then does something genuine come into being.
Dim sum is not merely food. It is an act of lighting gratitude and prayer. A wish for peace, kindness, and compassion takes shape, flavor, and texture in each piece.
For over forty years, I have pursued the theories, the handling of ingredients, the techniques, and the accumulated knowledge of dim sum. Now, I wish to share everything I have learned — openly and wholeheartedly.
From this desire, the Dim Sum Meister Association was born.
This is not a hobby school. It is a professional training ground for those who aspire to become true dim sum artisans.
By understanding the logic, refining one’s skills, and conversing with ingredients, students discover the joy of creating — and ultimately, dim sum as a form of self‑expression.
There is no final point of completion. That is why we continue to learn, to notice, to pray, and to create — every day.
We warmly welcome those who wish to study the authentic craft, inherit its spirit, and carry the culture of dim sum into the next generation.
About the Dim Sum Meister Association
■ Our Purpose
The Dim Sum Meister Association was founded with a clear mission: to preserve and pass on the authentic culture of dim sum to future generations.
Dim sum is a comprehensive art form in which skill, principle, and heart come together as one. After more than forty years of exploration, I realized that protecting this culture requires a place where professionals can learn with true commitment.
■ Our Philosophy
- Transmission of Technique — A structured environment to learn from foundational skills to advanced craftsmanship.
- Understanding of Principles — Cultivating artisans who grasp the nature of ingredients, the principles of cooking, and the structure of dim sum.
- Cultivation of Heart — Valuing the spirit that the maker’s heart is reflected in the work.
■ What Makes Us Unique
● Professional Training Curriculum
Designed for those who choose the path of the artisan.
● Theory × Practice
Understanding why things happen builds adaptability and creativity.
● Small Group, Dialogue Based Instruction
Emphasizing awareness, reflection, and the ability to create one’s own dim sum.
■ The Origin of Our Philosophy: “Gratitude and Prayer” in Dim Sum
There was a particular experience that led me to realize that dim sum is an act of expressing gratitude and prayer through food.
Many years ago, I received a request from the head chef of the Meitetsu Toyama Hotel to prepare dim sum for His Imperial Highness, who was then the Crown Prince. The order consisted solely of several types of fried dim sum, twenty‑five pieces each. Although it was not profitable given the quantity and conditions, I declined compensation and delivered the dishes out of honor and respect.
The same request continued annually. Each year, I devoted myself to creating fried dim sum with sincerity, despite the limitations.
One year, I was told that the Crown Princess would accompany him. At the time, many quietly hoped for her long‑awaited pregnancy. I added finely chopped goji berries to my Snow Crab Almond Fritters, praying for her health and well‑being as I prepared them.
The following year, when the birth of Princess Aiko was announced, I felt a quiet joy—not as someone involved, but simply as a craftsman who had once offered a heartfelt prayer through food. Of course, it was merely a coincidence, yet the experience taught me that a dish made with sincere wishes can sometimes intersect gently with someone’s life.
For me, dim sum is not just food; it is an act of “lighting the heart.” Through my classes, I hope to share this sentiment with everyone.
These annual requests eventually came to an end. The Crown Princess’s pregnancy and childbirth led to the suspension of the traditional Kurobe–Tateyama mountain visits, and the Meitetsu Toyama Hotel—where the Imperial family had long stayed—closed its doors. It was a historic hotel once used by Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun. In 2001, the Toyama ANA Hotel opened and became the new accommodation.
This series of events reminded me that dim sum, created with sincerity, can quietly cross paths with important moments in people’s lives.
■ Our Vision
Dim sum culture is a culture of peace and prayer. To carry this spirit forward, we will continue to nurture true artisans.
Our wish is to see dim sum artisans — equipped with skill, principle, and heart — take flight from Japan to the world.