Kaz Matsune is a storyteller and speaker who uses food as a medium to share life lessons.

A Japanese chef who has spent over a decade observing American culture through the lens of sushi-making, he challenges assumptions, inspires curiosity, and helps people find meaning in simplicity—one bite at a time. His happiness stems from seeing the positive impact of his work on the world.

As the founder of Breakthrough Sushi, the first and only sustainable team-building sushi company in the United States, Kaz has redefined sushi-making as an interactive, mindful experience. Since 2012, he has taught over 20,000 American participants, discovering that the precision required for sushi reveals profound truths about how differently cultures approach mastery, mistakes, and meaning. Blending storytelling with culinary artistry, he bridges Eastern and Western philosophies to spark learning, laughter, and discovery.

A natural storyteller, Kaz is known for his humor, warmth, and ability to connect deeply with audiences. Whether leading sushi workshops, delivering keynote talks, or writing, he seamlessly weaves tradition, creativity, and personal growth into every experience.

Beyond the kitchen, Kaz is an Amazon bestselling author with four books, and his work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Apple News, and Slate. He has appeared on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and in ad campaigns for Adobe, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, and Grammarly, amassing over 30 million views on YouTube. As a speaker, he has shared insights at Adobe, Autodesk, and UC Berkeley, and he previously served as a board member of the San Francisco Professional Food Society.

Whether crafting sushi, sharing transformative stories, or rethinking the way we approach food and life, Kaz Matsune continues to inspire and delight audiences with his unique blend of culinary artistry, mindfulness, and storytelling.