Why the Japanese focus?
I lived in Japan for four years and I fell in love with their desserts. They are very lovely—light, soft and slightly sweet. So when I got back to Bangkok, they were my inspiration. Plus they are quite a new thing here.

So Masatomi is doing strictly Japanese sweets?
It’s Japanese desserts that have been developed from traditional French ones. Japanese ingredients like green tea, red beans or Japanese orange are added to classic desserts so that people can relate to the flavors. I admire the idea that the Japanese always look to use local ingredients. I try to embrace this idea too by using what is yummy here, like coconut milk.

What do you think about the current craze for Japanese style desserts?
On the bright side, shop owners will try to develop better products so customers will get better quality desserts. However, it’s important for people to use the word ‘Japanese’ properly. It’s not as easy as sticking a green tea leaf on a dessert and then saying it’s Japanese style.