The authors examine the origins of the mysterious Jiro and what made him into the chef he has become. Born the heir to a Yakuza crime family, Jiro never longed to travel the criminal path laid out before him, but instead chose to secretly study the rich culinary history of his homeland, something that would have significant repercussions if discoverd by his gangster father. As Jiro's interest in the culinary arts deepens, his ability to keep his artistic and criminal worlds separate becomes too great, triggering a great personal loss that will forever change Jiro's path.