Circle is a cookbook which combines elements of nature, poetry, and food photography. (C) Yuka Yanazume After growing up in the suburbs of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Imai, 33, moved to Kyoto and became a self-trained chef. At his own expense Imai published a cookbook, Circle, which combines elements of nature, poetry, and food photography to document seasonal cuisine and scenery in the kitchen and beyond, from where the flavors and colors of each meal originate. Did you dream of being a chef growing up? When I was young, I dreamed of being a scientist. Then, in college, I attempted to make bread using natural yeast. As I kneaded the dough with my hands and watched how microorganisms breathe life into bread, my passion for food was sparked. From 2006 to 2014 I worked at the Enboca Restaurant, where we used seasonal foods to express the passage of time. The Noma (1) cookbook inspired me to head to Copenhagen for short- term study. Recently, while getting ready for m...