Was it the call of the Inca Sun gods? The lure of the Pacific coastline? Or simply the pull of the current? Whether myth or coincidence, Peru has been a major point of immigration for the oriental race. Japanese and Chinese immigrants have particularly come to characterize a large portion of the Peruvian population. Yell “chino,” (china man) down a crowded street and you´ll receive more than one furtive glance back.

From politics to traditional cuisine, nothing has been spared from the asian sensation. Alberto Fujimori, Peru´s controversial president from 1990 to 2000, was none other than Peruvian Japanese. A genius in macroeconomics and renown for cleaning up the terrorist havoc left behind by Peru´s current president, Alan Garcia, during his first, not-so-transparent term, Fujimori is now being accused of human rights violations. Fujimori was born in Miraflores, Lima, but holds double citizenship in Japan(a precaution taken by his parents that later allowed him to seek political asylum). But Fujimori’s influence is far from gone: his daughter, Keiko, remainssactive in the political scene and Fujimori will forever be revered by some, as the man who cleaned up the streets of Peru, delivering it from the hands of the terrorists – albeit violating some human rights here and there.

But the Asian infusion didn’t stop with Fujimori´s imprisonment. Japanese political influence is shy compared to the realm of chinese-peruvian cuisine. Traditional peruvian dishes such as lomo saltado and ceviche better watch out, because white rice and wanton soup are making their mark. Peru is home to more “chifas” or chinese restaurants, than any other Latin American country. Even the word for Chinese restaurants is a Peruvian Chinese mestizo. The Chinese used to say “chi fan,” meaning eat rice, but Peruvians adapted the phrase into “chifa” to mean chinese food. The street Capon, the Peruvian chinatown, is littered with small shops and chifas, and is home to several typical chinese festivals and celebrations.

Over 1 million Chinese live in Peru, the largest number for any South American country. Most Chinese immigrated in the 19th century after the abolition of slavery. They worked under gruesome conditions in the haciendas.

My family immigrated to Peru to escape the oppressive hand of communism. While I was born in America, my heritage is a Chinese-Peruvian mix. Spanish was my first language. But living in Miami, Florida, where English is the second language and Latinos permeate the scene, I realized that the Spanish I had learned was not exactly in its purest form. Thus even language is feeling the effects of the asian boom. In my Spanish vocabulary reside words such as “kion” and “sillau” meaning ginger and soy sauce. Yet in my past conversations with other Latin American descendants, I’ve realized that what I speak, what my whole family and even the entirety of Peru speaks, is a Spanish with a Chinese remix. The words “kion” and “sillau” are actually Cantonese. I honestly do not know how to say ginger or soy sauce in Spanish.

Whether Peru was an opportunity to begin anew or the country emitted some type of mystical lure,  Peru has officially become a permanent home to hundred of Chinese immigrants. Maybe its time for the Chinese-Peruvians that inhabit Peru to visit their origins, perhaps sending some Spanish words and cuisine overseas to the land of their fathers.