Eiichi Takahashi, 74, was recently designated as a part of Kyoto's intangible cultural heritage as the 14th generation owner and head chef of Hyotei, a restaurant steeped in traditional Japanese cuisine with a history dating back more than 400 years.
"Do not tinker too much with ingredients and express a sense of the season in your dishes — that's our restaurant's way," said Takahashi, a master of Kyoto cuisine and "kaiseki" multicourse meals.
The Kyoto Prefecture board of education designated Takahashi as an intangible cultural asset last month.