WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, born in Peru of Japanese descent, is one of the most renowned chefs for brilliantly fusing Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, giving rise to Nikkei cuisine. As the head of his restaurant Maido in Lima, Tsumura has transformed the flavors of these two cultures into a unique gastronomic experience, earning him numerous international accolades. His restaurant has been ranked among the best in the world by the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants list, receiving recognition multiple times. Tsumura's creativity and dedication to perfecting the fusion of flavors and culinary techniques have solidified his place as one of the most influential chefs in modern gastronomy.
Mitsuharu Tsumura was born and raised in Peru in a family of Japanese descent. His interest in cooking developed early, influenced by his family's culinary history and the abundance of fresh ingredients available along the Peruvian coast. Determined to follow his passion, he moved to the United States, where he studied at the renowned Johnson & Wales University.
After graduating, Tsumura traveled to Japan, where he honed his skills working with renowned chefs in the art of traditional Japanese cuisine. This experience helped him understand the subtleties of Japanese techniques, ingredients, and culinary philosophy, which he later fused with Peruvian cuisine.
In 2009, Mitsuharu Tsumura opened his restaurant Maido in Lima, a place that perfectly embodies the fusion of Japanese culture and Peru's rich culinary traditions. The term Maido means "welcome" in Japanese, a word that reflects the hospitality and warm reception Tsumura aims to offer his diners.
Through Maido, Tsumura created a space where Peruvian flavors meet Japanese techniques. Ingredients like fresh fish, potatoes, and corn are combined with miso, soy, and other Japanese elements to form a unique harmony. Each dish is an exploration of both cultures, and Maido's menu regularly changes to incorporate local and seasonal ingredients.
Mitsuharu Tsumura's exceptional talent and innovative approach to Nikkei cuisine have earned him worldwide recognition. Maido has been consistently ranked among the best restaurants in the world, especially on the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants list. In 2019, Maido was named the best restaurant in Latin America.
Tsumura's Nikkei cuisine is not only a celebration of flavors but also a reflection of Peru's multicultural identity. His culinary approach emphasizes the importance of innovation while respecting the deep cultural roots of both ingredients and techniques.
As a leading figure of Nikkei cuisine, Mitsuharu Tsumura has played a key role in promoting this unique cultural fusion worldwide. He is regularly invited to participate in international culinary events, and his contribution to gastronomy has helped solidify Peru's position as a top global culinary destination.
Under Tsumura's direction, Nikkei cuisine has become a source of inspiration for many young chefs who seek to combine tradition and innovation in their culinary creations.
Like many great contemporary chefs, Mitsuharu Tsumura is also committed to promoting sustainable practices. He works closely with local fishermen and Peruvian producers to ensure that the ingredients used in his restaurant are sourced responsibly and in an environmentally friendly manner. This commitment reflects not only his respect for nature but also his desire to preserve resources for future generations.
With Maido and his unique vision of Nikkei cuisine, Mitsuharu Tsumura continues to push the boundaries of culinary innovation while honoring the traditions that define Japanese and Peruvian cuisines. His ability to fuse these two culinary worlds has not only redefined cuisine in Peru but also inspired a new generation of chefs to explore novel combinations of flavors and cultures.
Through his dishes, Tsumura tells a story of mutual respect between cultures, creating dining experiences that transcend borders. His impact on global gastronomy continues to grow, and he remains one of the foremost ambassadors of Nikkei cuisine.