Shiatsu has nothing to do with TCM or acupressure. It was developed by a 7 year old boy that had no idea what TCM was. Shiatsu as defined and legislated in japan uses only fingers and the palms of ones hand on specific points. The confusion between Shiatsu therapy and TCM came from the original requirement for any hands on therapist to have a license in amma therapy through the Japanese government. Therefore there is only one type of Shiatsu Therapy(recognized in 1957) but many derivatives developed by enlarge by fully trained and qualified practitioners. (mostly) You either were trained by an accepted College in japan or by a fully trained graduate from Japan or one of their graduate students. It is called proper lineage of training. If anyone wishes the facts I would be glad to provide links and data for their use. No arguements just truth.
RE: True history of Shiatsu Therapy
Hello Shiatsupractor,
Welcome on HP!
Intereting story. Yes, please, could you give us some references?
Artemis
RE: True history of Shiatsu Therapy
Its certainly evolved alot since then thanks to people like Masunaga and others. My school even incudes Chi Kung.
RE: True history of Shiatsu Therapy
here are some references. First Check out the web site .
"the complete book of shiatsu therapy" Toru Namikoshi, "Theory and Practice of shiatsu Therapy" Katsusuke Serizawa, Meridian and Shiatsu Therapy" Tadashi Izawa, "Oyayubi Ichidai" Tokujiro Namikoshi, "Shiatsu Therapy" Tempeki Tamai(1939), "The Minutes of the 22nd Social Labor Commitee" The National Diet the house of Coucillors, the 29th issue(1955).
In answer to Shiatsu Therapy has evolved since the beginning with the reference to Masunaga sensei, even in Masunaga sensei's book on his derivative form of shiatsu, he wrote that before one does his form you must have a sound foundation including the basic priciples of Shiatsu Therapy as taught in Japan and recognized by the ministry of Health in Japan. This includes many hours of anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical time.Shiatsu Therapy remains the same there is only one recognized form the rest are derivatives presented by the most part by qualified and trained practitioners. Masunaga sensei only certified in 1958 but did not start to teach shiatsu till the mid 60's then only in his abreviated form as an addition to the basics.
As to what you include in your training that is up to you as long as your curriculum includes the hundreds of hours of basic sciences and shiatsu therapy foundation then you are doing well to continue the legacy of Shiatsu. After all in our school we even include a little bit of TCM for interest sake.
RE: True history of Shiatsu Therapy
The shiatsupractor.org site is interesting but according to Toru Namikoshi's book " The Shiatsu Way To Health" first published in Japan 1988 page 10 says This knowledge (acupuncture) came to Japan over 1000 years ago, and in the 18th century, practitioners of traditional Japanese massage, or Anma, incorporated this knowledge into their technique. In the 1920's, Tokujiro Namikoshi established shiatsu as a therapeutic system integrated with modern anatomy and physiology, coining the word shiatsu, literally "finger pressure", to describe his system.
RE: True history of Shiatsu Therapy
Hi JB,
Thanks for the info.
Artemis