• Unofficial Ambassador for Japanese bartending techniques and drinks
• Winner, StarChefs’ New York City Rising Stars; Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers; and nominated for Tales of the Cocktail’s “American Bartender of the Year”
• Bars under Masa’s leadership have been named “Best New American Cocktail Bar” by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, “Best New Opening” by the World’s 50 Best Bars made their lists of both “Best American Restaurant Bars” and “World’s Best Restaurant Bars”

Masa is an ace bartender with more than 17 years’ experience in the field. He is currently the Managing Partner, Head Bartender, and Director of Deliciousness at Katana Kitten, an award-winning Japanese-influenced cocktail bar in New York City. Masa's book, The Japanese Art of the Cocktail, was published in June of 2021 to considerable acclaim.