MAZ Tokyo | Peruvian Cuisine in Japan by Virgilio Martínez

In the culinary heart of Tokyo, the city where age-old tradition meets constant innovation, Virgilio Martínez, the acclaimed chef of Central in Lima, has created a space that redefines Peruvian cuisine on Japanese soil: MAZ Tokyo. This restaurant is not only a culinary embassy of Peru in Japan but a sensory exploration that unites two ancient cultures with admirable technical and philosophical precision.

Opened in 2022, MAZ is part of the world of Mater Iniciativa, the research project led by the Central team, but with an approach deeply adapted to the Japanese context. MAZ doesn't try to replicate Central on another continent: it reinvents it from the roots up.

The purpose behind MAZ TOKYO

The name MAZ comes from "mater" and "Amazonia", two fundamental concepts for Virgilio Martínez. MAZ is a continuation of Central's discourse, but in a new geography. It is not simply an international extension but a reinterpretation of the Peruvian landscape through the cultural codes of Japan.

In the chef's own words: "MAZ is not Central in Japan. MAZ is what happens when our ideas are transformed by the environment, the season, Japanese culture and its way of understanding the world."

Every ingredient, technique and presentation has been designed to resonate with Japanese diners without losing the Andean, Amazonian and coastal spirit of Peru.

A team with roots and wings

Although Virgilio Martínez is the central figure, the day-to-day running of MAZ is in the hands of executive chef Santiago Fernández and a multidisciplinary team trained in both Peru and Japan. Alongside them, Mater Iniciativa continues to operate as the hub of knowledge and research, making sure every Peruvian ingredient has a context, an origin and a story.

Service is Japanese-style: courteous, attentive to detail and almost choreographically smooth, which elevates the experience.

Instead of traditional menus, MAZ offers a journey through altitudes, where each dish is inspired by a Peruvian ecosystem and combined with a Japanese technique or aesthetic. The tasting menu has 10 to 14 courses and varies with the season.

Examples of cultural pairing:

High Andean forest + Japanese fermentation: A dish of native tubers with quinoa miso.
Amazon + umami: Amazonian river fish with dashi broth infused with Peruvian herbs.
Pacific coast + pickles: Peruvian seafood with Japanese preservation techniques.

The dishes are served on handmade tableware, some imported from Peru and some commissioned from Japanese artists.

The architectural and sensory experience

Located in the Aoyama district, one of Tokyo's most exclusive, MAZ occupies a minimalist space that breathes calm, wood and balance. Designed by the Japanese architecture studio Simplicity, the restaurant has only a few tables to keep it intimate and exclusive.

The semi-open kitchen lets you glimpse the ritual of preparation, while a stone wall and a botanical installation evoke the spirit of the Andes and the Amazon. The background music blends natural sounds of Peru with subtle chords.

Recognition and international reviews

Since it opened, MAZ has caught the attention of food critics around the world:

Named one of the best new restaurants by specialist media such as Monocle, Fine Dining Lovers and 50 Best Discovery.
Praised by the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2024, which highlights its philosophy of sustainability and respect for produce.
Visited by international chefs such as Yoshihiro Narisawa, Daniel Humm and Dominique Crenn.

The highest praise, however, comes from Japanese diners, who value the authenticity of its message and its innovation without artifice.

MAZ and Mater Iniciativa: knowledge in action

The restaurant draws on the research of Mater Iniciativa, the project that gathers traditional knowledge, forgotten species, ancestral techniques and Peruvian biodiversity. MAZ imports not only products but also ideas.

Many ingredients come directly from communities that work with Mater: wild potatoes, Maras salt, Amazonian fruits, native cacao. The challenge is adapting them to Japan's climate, health regulations and local preferences without losing their identity.

This cultural transfer becomes an act of culinary diplomacy.

Useful information for visiting MAZ Tokyo

📍 Address: 2 Chome-11-11 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
🌐 Website: maztokyo.jp
📑 Official menu: See the full menu here
📆 Reservations: Online only, months in advance
💵 Approximate price: Between ¥25,000 and ¥35,000 per person
🍷 Pairing: Options with natural wine, Japanese sake and Peruvian ferments

Why is MAZ one of a kind?

Because it doesn't try to be Peru in Japan, but Japan looking at Peru with respect.
Because its cooking is a silent conversation between landscapes, ingredients and cultures.
Because it represents the evolution of Latin American cuisine on the global stage.
Because it doesn't forget its roots, but lets them grow freely.

Culinary recommendations from Peru

At Perú Comidas, we celebrate the birth of projects like MAZ because they prove the vigor, maturity and global relevance of Peruvian cuisine.

MAZ is not just an elegant restaurant in Tokyo. It is a bridge between the Amazon and Mount Fuji, between the heights of the Andes and the delicacy of the Japanese ceremony. A round trip that translates into flavors, emotions and lessons.

If you visit Tokyo, MAZ is an essential experience.

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