I attended a talk at SXSW and the chef Paul Qui had a great quote but I don't
know how to spell the work in English (and Japanese) and could use some help.
Here is the quote, with the best attempt at the word as I could manage.

> I don't know what that dream project is and I am always in search of that
> dream project. In Japanese there's a term called **_shokaneen_** that means
> to be the master of something, but nobody is ever **_shokaneen_** you're
> always to trying to chase (that) to be a master in whatever that is. For me,
> whatever that dream is—and I don’t know what it is—I keep on chasing it.
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2015-03-15T19:31:45.937
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2015-03-27T15:16:27.897
2015-03-15T20:43:53.127
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spelling
Heard that "master of something" is pronounced as 'shokaneen'—could you help me find the right term?
Since I'm guessing you're intending the _ee_ sound as approximately that of
"between", that's represented by _i_ in romaji, making the end _nin_ , which
refers to people, appropriately enough.

However, I couldn't think of (or find) any word _shokanin_ or _shoukanin_ , or
even _shokkanin_ , so I had to take a few liberties.

I think the word you most likely heard is actually
[職人](http://www.romajidesu.com/dictionary/meaning-of-%E8%81%B7%E4%BA%BA.html)
( _shokunin_ , lit. workman or artisan). It doesn't precisely mean "master" by
any stretch, but it fits the idea of always working hard to perfect one's
craft.

(Note: Converted from a comment in lieu of other answers.)
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2015-03-27T15:16:27.897
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2015-03-27T15:16:27.897
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answer