Interview with Takashi Namikoshi

“As a mother's love” is the fundamental quality of a good shiatsu-shi

    He is the son of Toru and Matsuko Namikoshi, and grandson of Tokujiro Namikoshi, famous for his success in having

  shiatsu recognised and authorized by the Japanese ministries of Health and Education.

    Takashi Namikoshi has created the Namikoshi Shiatsu Associates Corporation Limited, an organisation dedicated

  to teaching and spreading the shiatsu technique. The Teikoku Hotel (Imperial Hotel), the most important hotel in Tokyo, 

  serves as the centre of the organisation and for his own practice. His courses and conferences both in Japan and

  internationally, are famous for the passion he brings to them. 

    Since he was born, he was surrounded by shiatsu practitioners. His father, Toru Namikoshi, is the person who has done the

  most to spread shiatsu throughout the world, and his grandfather, Tokujiro Namikoshi, was responsible for the rapid

  acceptance of shiatsu by Japanese society. He was born prematurely, and from the first day his father gave him shiatsu to

  strengthen and improve his physiological systems. It was so successful, that after some time, Takashi started gaining weight

  and his growth became normal. Noting the simplicity and the beneficial effects of the shiatsu treatment, his mother,

  Matsuko Namikoshi, decided to become a therapist herself.

    Takashi Namikoshi knows very well that he is heir to the most important family in the world of shiatsu. He became a

  shiatsu-shi first, and started to teach later on. After his father and grandfather had passed away, and in constant

  collaboration with his mother, his aim and purpose in life were clearly defined. He is a third generation shiatsu-shi

  from the NAMIKOSHI family. He is wholeheartedly committed to spreading shiatsu all over the world, giving courses and

  conferences, without stopping the work he does in his clinic.

    Takashi Namikoshi is conscious that his task in the world of shiatsu is very

  important: In Japan, with his contibution to the improvement of the technical

  quality of shiatsu, and the creation and development of educational models

  to improve the quality of teaching. And abroad, by establishing a basic

  standardisation of shiatsu and its teaching, to make shiatsu more universal.

    He wants more and more people to receive what he calls the authentic

  shiatsu: a good quality shiatsu. He wants to help people all over the world to

  have a healthier life. With that aim in mind he would like to see shiatsu

  specialists with a very good theoretical and practical training, and above all,

  with a good heart, capable of understanding other people's desires and

  problems. He would like all of this to be his legacy for future generations.

    In Europe, the directors of the schools that form the European Alliance of

  Shiatsu Schools, are his collaborators and meet regularly to discuss events

  in the world of shiatsu.

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    1. Shiatsu Yasuragi: Takashi Namikoshi Sensei, from the moment you were

  born, you were surrounded by shiatsu, your grandfather Tokujiro Namikoshi,

  your mother Matsuko Namikoshi and your father Toru Namikoshi are all

  important in the world of shiatsu. When you were a child, Did you want to

  become a shiatsu-shi (shiatsu practitioner)?

   Takashi Namikoshi: Ha ha ha, Sorry I was laughing, but your question 

  brings moving memories and joy. It is certainly true that all my family

  members were in the world of shiatsu which surrounded me all the time, but

  I was a child and my heroes came from the world of sport. In those years,

  baseball was the in thing, and I, and a lot of other children, wanted to be

  baseball players, although sometimes I dreamed of being a fighter

  like Bruce Lee. I changed my mind, and I have to thank my grandfather, my father and my mother for it. 

     2.  SY: In view of your family's importance in the world of shiatsu, Is it difficult to be up to their standard, or live up to their

  expectations? Don't you feel a great responsibility on your shoulders?

    TN: To be up to the same standard as them will always be difficult, but I was brought up to be on a par with them and to face

  up to my responsibilities, and I always sensed a lot of love. To be the person who has to follow in their footsteps is an honour

  and a challenge that will surely make me grow.

    3.  SY: From the teachings of Tokujiro, Toru  and Matsuko, What has been the most important lesson for you?

    TN: The answer is extremely simple: "Like a mother's love" as my grandfather and father used to say, and my mother keeps

  repeating. And to be able to put yourself into other people's shoes, so that you respect them and their feelings in order to

  help them.

    4.  SY: What does shiatsu mean for you?

    TN: A lifestyle, a way of living, my life's work, something so important without which my life would be empty.

    5. SY: What is the current status of shiatsu in Japan,

  a) as a treatment?

  b) its training?

    TN:

         a) Shiatsu is part of hte healthcare system. Doctors can recommend shiatsu as part of a treatment and the insurance

  company pays a percentage - established by law - to the shiatsu centre, as is done with any other type of tretment in Japan.

         b) I believe that shiatsu training in my country is not at its best at present. I think we have a lot of work to do, I am

  working on a series of projects to improve the training of shiatsu practitioners.

    6.  SY: You are working hard with a company that creates modern salons where shiatsu is received on a massage couch.

  Are you departing from your predecessors line of work?

    TN: No, I am not departing from their line of work. It is true that I try to provide a service for people with a certain standard of

  living, so they can receive shiatsu without having to kneel or lie on the floor. The couch allows more comfort for the peson

  who receives shiatsu. Nevertheless, my idea of shiatsu is still the same as my predecessors'. I believe that if the technical

  and theoretical basis of shiatsu is of good quality, then the shiatsu treatment doesn't lose its essence.

    7. SY: What is your opinion about shiatsu in Europe?

    TN: It makes me happy to see that in Europe there are several shiatsu schools which are raising the standards of teaching

  and training, and I hope to collaborate with those schools to organise a core curriculum that will help create higher standards

  all over the world.

    8. SY: What do you mean by “Shiatsu Brother”?

    TN: I use the words shiatsu brother with people I completely trust and respect in the world of shiatsu. It was my father who

  first used it with a very good therapist who was also his friend, Binks Sensei. 

    9. SY: Will there be in the near future a shiatsu course in Japan for European students who would like to learn with you and

  Matsuko Namikoshi? 

    TN: Both my mother and I would love to organise a course in Japan for European students.

  In fact, Arturo Valenzuela Sensei, my shiatsu brother, suggested it, but we have both been too busy to meet. But I am sure

  that we'll be able to offer something quite soon.

    11. SY: And, to finish the interview, Could you give shiatsu students and practitioners some advice?

    TN: "As a mother's love". They should treat each person that comes to see them as a mother would treat her own child.

  They should be capable of understanding the patient's suffering, and do their utmost to relieve it.

Notes:

shiatsu-shi = it can be translated as shiatsu therapist, practitioner or professional.

Chiryoujo = clinic, place for treatments.

Kanja = patient, since in Japan shiatsu is an official treatment, the person receiving shiatsu is called patient.