TRAINING
Namikoshi is one of 20 shiatsu masters and he talks about the therapy at conferences worldwide
Due to he established
another practice in Sapporo city. Eventually it became clear to the Namikoshi family that shiatsu had the potential to take root across Japan and so Tokujiro moved to Tokyo, founding the Japan Shiatsu Institute in 1940. Although shiatsu was legally approved in 1955 as a result of the institute’s work, it was done so incorrectly under the banner of amma massage. “Tokujiro and his family recognised that shiatsu was different in skill and technique from amma, with the latter based on Chinese meridian
acupuncture points,” notes Namikoshi. “Unlike amma, elbows, knees and fists were never used – only the fingers and hands were sensitive enough to perform shiatsu.”
Official certification Continuing to offer specialist education to students, the institute was renamed the Japan Shiatsu School in 1957 and
officially licensed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Then, in 1964, the therapy was recognised to be distinct from amma massage and licensed under its own ‘amma massage shiatsu’ certification. Simultaneously, in the 1960s, Tokujiro’s son Toru had returned from medical school in the US, bringing with him a greater understanding of western medical science – in particular anatomical and physiological functions – to be integrated into the therapy. So, what are the hallmarks of correct technique, according to the family? “Shiatsu should be performed only with
Unlike amma, elbows, knees and fists were never used – only the fingers and hands were sensitive enough to perform shiatsu
fingers, palms and especially the thumbs,” says Namikoshi. “Based on modern medical science, there are 660 vital points located at muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic glands, hormonal glands and viscera, which can be stimulated by applying pressure through the hands to aid organ functionality. Elbows, knees and fists do not have the sensory nerves required to detect abnormalities in the skin, muscles or body heat and therefore cannot pinpoint where there are imbalances, misalignments or irregularities. This is why it’s dangerous to use anything other than the thumbs, fingers and palms in shiatsu therapy.” Having trained under his grandfather
Tokujiro Namikoshi treated many stars, such as Muhammad Ali and Marilyn Monroe, in his lifetime
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and taught at Tokyo’s Japan Shiatsu College for many years, Namikoshi now runs his own clinic in the capital. Seeing on average 20 patients per day, he treats people for a range of conditions from lower back problems to migraine,
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