Toshiro Konishi

Toshiro Konishi (July 11, 1953 – April 16, 2016) was a Japanese Peruvian chef, musician, and television personality. Konishi, a pioneer of Japanese cuisine in Peru, opened one of the first Japanese restaurants in Lima in 1977.^[1] He was one of Peru's most famous chefs, and became a recognized television personality in the country.^[1][2] In 2008, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries awarded him the Minister's Prize. Konishi was the first Japanese chef based in Latin America to receive the award from the ministry.^[3]

Konishi was born on July 11, 1953. He was the fourth son of a Japanese restaurateur in Saito, Miyazaki Prefecture.^[3] 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.^[3]

In 1977, Konishi moved from Japan to Peru to work with another chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, who is now known for his Nobu fusion restaurants in Peru, the United States, and other countries.^[3] Konishi worked and operated a Lima restaurant called Matsuei, one of the first in the city to specialize in Japanese food, for ten years.^[1][3] He then opened two additional Japanese eateries, Toshiro's and Wako, which were located in Lima's Sheraton hotel.^[3]

Konishi was an early pioneer of Peruvian Fusion cuisine, which mixes Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions.^[3] He was a regular participant in international food festivals.^[3] He also taught at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima.^[3] He opened Mesa 18 at the Miraflores Hotel in Lima in 2013, and the Oishii, his most recent restaurant, in 2015.^[2][4]

In 2008, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries awarded him the Minister's Prize. Konishi was the first Japanese chef based in Latin America to receive the award from the ministry.^[3]

Konishi died from cancer on April 17, 2016, at the age of 63.^[1] His wife and daughter have since taken over the Toshiro brand.