Toshiro Konishi (July 11, 1953 – April 16, 2016) was a

Japanese Peruvian Japanese Peruvians ( es, peruano-japonés or ''nipo-peruano''; ja, 日系ペルー人, ''Nikkei Perūjin'') are Peruvian citizens of Japanese origin or ancestry. Peru has the second largest ethnic Japanese population in South America after B ...

chef, musician, and television personality. Konishi, a pioneer of

Japanese cuisine Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (Japanese: ) is based on rice with miso soup and other ...

in Peru, opened one of the first Japanese restaurants in

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

in 1977. He was one of Peru's most famous chefs, and became a recognized television personality in the country. In 2008, the Japanese

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may refer to: * Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Cambodia) * Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) * Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Niue) * Depar ...

awarded him the Minister's Prize. Konishi was the first Japanese chef based in

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...

to receive the award from the ministry.

Early life

Konishi was born on July 11, 1953. He was the fourth son of a Japanese

restaurateur A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspec ...

in Saito,

Miyazaki Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Miyazaki Prefecture has a population of 1,073,054 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 7,735 km2 (2,986 sq mi). Miyazaki Prefecture borders Ōita Prefecture to the north, Kuma ...

. He began working in the kitchen when he was 11 years old. In 1971, he moved to Tokyo to become a chef at a restaurant called Fumi.

Career

In 1977, Konishi moved from Japan to

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

to work with another chef,

Nobu Matsuhisa Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa (松久信幸 ''Matsuhisa Nobuyuki''; born March 10, 1949) is a Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur known for his fusion cuisine blending traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients. His signature dish ...

, who is now known for his

Nobu Nobu Hospitality, LLC is an American company founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper in partnerships with Drew Nieporent as an Operator with Myriad Restaurant Group. Background In 1987, Nobu Matsuhisa moved to Los Angele ...

fusion restaurants in Peru, the United States, and other countries. Konishi worked and operated a Lima restaurant called Matsuei, one of the first in the city to specialize in Japanese food, for ten years. He then opened two additional Japanese eateries, Toshiro's and Wako, which were located in Lima's Sheraton hotel. Konishi was an early pioneer of Peruvian Fusion cuisine, which mixes Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions. He was a regular participant in international food festivals. He also taught at

Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola St. Ignatius of Loyola University ( es, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola) (USIL) is a private university located in Lima, Peru, part of a group of educational institutions founded in 1995 by former Peruvian Vice President Raúl Diez Canseco, alo ...

in Lima. He opened Mesa 18 at the Miraflores Hotel in Lima in 2013, and the Oishii, his most recent restaurant, in 2015. In 2008, the Japanese

awarded him the Minister's Prize. Konishi was the first Japanese chef based in

to receive the award from the ministry. Konishi died from cancer on April 17, 2016, at the age of 63. His wife and daughter have since taken over the Toshiro brand.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Konishi, Toshiro 1953 births 2016 deaths Peruvian chefs Japanese chefs Japanese emigrants to Peru Peruvian people of Japanese descent Musicians from Miyazaki Prefecture