Abstract

The therapeutic art of shiatsu is now widely practised in the West, yet practitioners find it difficult to acquire the training that will take them beyond the mechanistic level.

For many years Akinobu Kishi has been visiting the West to teach, but never before has his approach been recorded in book form. Regarded as one of the leading exponents of shiatsu, Kishi trained with and assisted Shizuto Masunaga, and is widely regarded as the heir to his work, developed to the higher level of Seiki Soho, which takes the practice beyond technique. With the assistance of his long-term student Alice Whieldon, Kishi's theory and practice of Seiki Soho are described and explained for the first time in this important book. Setting his work within the historical context of shiatsu, the long central section of the book consists of a dialogue about the fundamental principles and practice of Masunaga's Zen Shiatsu and Seiki Soho as taught by Kishi. The final section consists of case studies of practice, including the experiences of people treated by Kishi.

This groundbreaking and generous book is illustrated with Kishi's calligraphy and other artwork, and will be essential reading for all shiatsu practitioners and students who want to deepen their practice, and a rich and rewarding read for anyone interested in Eastern approaches to life and healing.

Akinobu Kishi was an internationally renowned teacher and master of Zen Shiatsu. He developed his own method of bodywork, Seiki Soho, after studying extensively in the fields of Shiatsu, Haruchika Noguchi's Seitai and bio-energetics until, coming up against the limits of Shiatsu, he experienced a profound change in consciousness, out of which Seiki Soho emerged. Born in 1949 in the Gunma region of Japan, Kishi was originally taught by his father, an accomplished judo master, who introduced him to manual therapy when he was just 9 years old. His formal training took place at Tokujiro Namikoshi's Japan Shiatsu College and at the Iokai Centre in Tokyo with Shizuto Masunaga, the father of Zen Shiatsu. Kishi assisted Masunaga for 10 years, and is widely regarded as the heir to his work. Alice Whieldon is a shiatsu practitioner and teacher as well as a tutor and senior manager with the Open University in London. She began her training in 1991, met Akinobu Kishi in 1998, and worked closely with him until his death in 2012.
Essential reading for all shiatsu practitioners and students who want to deepen their practice, and a rich, rewarding read for anyone interested in Eastern approaches to life and healing... A fantastic insight into Masunaga and his shiatsu legacy. An inspirational book, not only for the history of the therapies involved, but also for the dynamism of both man and techniques. Great to learn about this vibrant, gentle, new concept of seiki... Such an enlightening read, this book offered a rich insight into the history of shiatsu and it was fascinating to learn about the author's interaction with Masunaga, who had such a big influence in the history of this therapy. I really enjoyed this book.
International Therapist
This is a book to have to keep reading and re-reading!
KIKAI (Belgian Shiatsu Magazine)
In this extraordinary book, Akinobu Kishi shares with us the history of Shiatsu in Japan, his experience of working with Masunaga and his own spiritual development. This book will be fascinating reading for all Shiatsu and Seiki practitioners.
Clifford Andrews BSc PGCE PCE MRDD T, international Shiatsu teacher and founder of newenergywork.com
I found this book inspirational - a richly textured and generous guide that coherently explains the Japanese healing tradition and, for the first time in a Western language, sets Shiatsu in its full historical context. Following Kishi's personal journey it explores, through his penetrating insights, the subtle interior processes and paradoxes of healing and reveals Seiki as a potent yet simple and natural way of harmony at the centre of the tradition.
Paul Lundberg, Co-founder of The Shiatsu College (UK) and author of The Book of Shiatsu