1. - Why do we need Namikoshi Shiatsu-style Institution in Europe?

Because Namikoshi Shiatsu in Japan is an organization with a large experience, and is the only organization with an official recognition. To get the certificate you have to pass an examination of the katas in this particularly style.

The Sensei says, that it has been standardized the same as the basis of music theory and harmony in music education. So it is needed his perfect knowledge for the creation of personal styles.

2.- What are the aims of Namikoshi Shiatsu Europe?

To promote Namikoshi Shiatsu-style in Europe. Building an information and experiences exchange in teaching anatomy and in the particular tendency to become ill in Occident, as the way of life, customs and way of thinking are different to the ones in Japan and Asia in general.

3.- How is this being doing ?

Training instructors to teach the “katas” and the shiatsu spirit in schools around Europe. Beside, the institution counts with 12 offices in 6 countries of the UE, meeting points to spread this martial therapy, which is mainly pragmatic. So more centres are needed to help spread the correct practice of shiatsu, meeting point and give support to the new students.

4.- What does this style have so special that sets you apart from others therapies recognized by the government?

The main difference is that treatment and diagnosis are done at the same time. So not only pays attention to the patient’s opinion but also is contrasted with the response given by the body to the treatment.

5.- Do you have the same teaching method used in Japan?, and what the Shiatsu Namikoshi Europe does?

There are differences in the teaching method, as students have had a different education. The education in Japan tends to have master instead of teachers. Education is born of an example, without explanations.

On the other side, occident is the opposite. Education goes towards the coherence of a logical explanation for the trials of the mind.

So, this association aims to create a teaching method adapted to the occidental way of teaching. This method is the combination of the knowledge needed to have the basis to walk the shiatsu path.

6.- What are the main problems the association has found spreading Shiatsu in Europe?

In recent decades Onoda Sensei, has found the different way of being and living of the students. For example, in some countries of Latin America there is an ideal cultural environment for the emergence of artist,so from early childhood, the children, are often supported in distinguished from others, through a stamp of originality. Curiously is the opposite from the east.-

What importance does this have with the future instructors of Shiatsu, and the European Association?

Most of the occidental instructors built his personal style immediately, instead of spending the necessary years of practice to have the basis knowledge of the Namikoshi style, so though they investigate new treatments, do not miss the essential forms of the spirit of the kata.

They say that time helps people to spend time investigating a personal style, and when this happens, it serves to structure new points and its relationship with the most appropriate katas to create the harmony in the style. This time, in which postures have been forced during the investigating process, makes a break to re-learning for the kinetic memory.

In general what Onoda Sensei and the Members of the Japan Shiatsu Collage have observed, is that personal styles are being created without have learnt the basis knowledge with the body. For that reason Namikoshy style gets distorted. More over, the continue practice of a system that force the body, makes losing health and quality of the therapist, and also the reputation of the Shiatsu diffusion.

To conclude, we can say that with the Namikoshi Europe Association, we have the main basis, to share the teaching experiences from different countries to the diffusion under a programme.

And guarantee the continuity in the diffusion of the original spirit of Shiatsu, avoiding the losing in varieties of “technical performance”. To maintain the flight of a therapeutic technique, that can be called the road “with heart”.