History

When the founder of Shiatsu Therapy, Tokujiro Namikoshi-sensei, was seven years old, he completely cured his mother who suffered from rheumatism.  He used only his thumbs, fingers and palms in applying pressure to her body.  This was the beginning of Shiatsu in 1912.  His continuing studies lead him to the establishment of an anatomical and physiological theory of Shiatsu.  He further developed his theory at his school which he opened to train Shiatsu therapists.  As a result of continued presentation of his work, in 1964 the Ministry of Health of the Japanese National Government recognized Shiatsu as a uniquely Japanese therapeutic treatment.

 

The word "Shiatsu" is thought to have been used first by Tenpeki Tamai about the year 1900.  Namikoshi-sensei was influenced by this, and gave the name "Shiatsu Ryoho(Treatment)" to the therapeutic method he had invented, thus establishing modern Shiatsu therapy.

 

The Root of Shiatsu

The root of Shiatsu is 'Te-ate' (which means 'hands-on' in Japanese).  When we feel pain, we usually place a hand on the affected area in attempt to relieve the pain.  This behavior is called 'Te-ate', and nowadays the word 'Te-ate' indicates medical treatment in general.  More than 2000 years ago in Japan's mythological age, an old Waka (Japanese poem) talks about the first doctor in Japan, named Sukunahikona-kami, healing people with his bare hands.  There are many records throughout the world of people healing with their bare hands and over time this practice has developed to become massage in Europe, chiropractic in the USA, Anma/Tsuina in China, and Shiatsu in Japan.

 

History of Shiatsu

1905   Tokujiro Namikoshi-sensei was born.
1912   He healed his mother of rheumatism. (The birth of Shiatsu)
1925    The very first Shiatsu Clinic was opened in Hokkaido.
1933   A Shiatsu clinic was opened in Tokyo.
1940  A Shiatsu school that later became known as  'The Japan Shiatsu College' was opened.
1953  Namikoshi-sensei visited Dr. Palmer of the Palmer Chiropractic School in Iowa, U.S.A.   (The first introduction of Shiatsu in the West.)
1955  The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare officially recognized Shiatsu, Anma, and Massage in the same category.
1957  The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare issued a legal definition of Shiatsu.
1957  Japan Shiatsu College became one of the schools sanctioned by the Ministry of Health.
1964 The Japanese Ministry of Health reviewed the regulations and acknowledged Shiatsu, Massage Therapy and Anma as unique and independent therapeutic methods.

 

                                                                                                     - Extract taken from - Canadian Shiatsu Association