This may sound too simple, but you know a masterpiece when you see it...it hits you all over; the head, the gut. We can look at a ruby and a chunk of granite. Granite's o.k., but the ruby can knock your socks off. Deep, red, mysterious.
We can all be masters because masters can recoginze masterpieces. It's the sacrifice and discipline that separates a master from a Master. Developing the "eye" for finding good yamadori or nuresry stock. Takes time and experience and hard work
