was a Japanese food historian from the city of Futtsu, Chiba. He was a courtesy member of the Cultural Academic Society. He wrote under the pen name Masaaki.
He was a graduate of the psychology section of the literature department of Waseda University. While attending university, he served as an apprentice to Kitaoji Rosanjin to study the fine arts of cooking. Afterwards, he worked in the editorial office at the magazine HousewifeâÂÂs Friend. He wrote about the cultural history of Japanese food.
He was one of the regular judges on the Fuji TV Corporation hit program Iron Chef, where he bore the title âÂÂRosanjin ScholarâÂÂ. Asako Kishi was also a regular judge on the program, and was a coworker of MasaakiâÂÂs while he worked at HousewifeâÂÂs Friend.
He appeared in the "Seed of Triviaâ segment of âÂÂHey! Spring of Triviaâ (broadcast on November 11, 2005) where he addressed the issue of âÂÂbroth from which brand of cup of Ramen best complemented cold riceâÂÂ. The other judges were food critic Mita Morio, cooking researcher Eiko Egaki, and the owner of Passion restaurant Andre Passion.
Hirano died in November 2008 of a heart attack.