The Origin · Since 1925
What is
Shiatsu?
A Japanese form of bodywork, codified in 1925 by Tokujiro Namikoshi.
Thumbs and palms. Nothing else.
Open daily, 11:00–19:00 (last booking)
Pressure of the thumbs and palms,
resting on the body's vital points.
Shiatsu (指圧) is a Japanese form of bodywork that uses pressure
from the thumbs and palms to bring the whole body into balance.
It was codified in 1925 by Tokujiro Namikoshi.
No tools, no machines, no oils —
only the weight of the hands resting on the body's vital points,
one point at a time, over clothing.
This is shiatsu in its original form:
a practice of relaxation that draws out the body's own vitality.
Who created Shiatsu?
Shiatsu was founded by Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905–2000).
In 1925 he established both the name “shiatsu”
and its systematic practice, grounded in anatomy and physiology.
He left behind the words:
“The heart of shiatsu is like a mother's love;
pressing the body calls forth the fountain of life.”
（指圧の心は母心、押せば命の泉湧く）
The warmth and pressure of the hands draw out
the vitality the body already holds —
an idea carried on to this day.
Read the full story of the origin of Shiatsu →
How Shiatsu works
-
01
Hands only
Thumbs and palms — no tools, no machines, no oils. The practitioner's hands are the entire method.
-
02
Vital points
Sustained, vertical pressure on the body's vital points, mapped through anatomy and physiology — one point at a time.
-
03
Over clothing
Shiatsu is received fully clothed. A gown is provided at the salon, so you may come straight from work.
-
04
Adjusted to you
Depth and rhythm are adjusted throughout — toward relaxation and the body's own natural balance.
A licensed practice,
in the founder's lineage.
In Japan, shiatsu is performed under a national licence:
the Anma Massage Shiatsu Therapist qualification,
which requires formal training in anatomy and physiology.
Every practitioner at Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon holds this licence.
And the lineage is unbroken.
From the founder, Tokujiro Namikoshi, to the fourth generation —
the same family, the same hands, carrying shiatsu forward
on the mezzanine floor of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
Tokujiro Namikoshi (Founder) · Toru Namikoshi (2nd) · Takashi Namikoshi (3rd) · Tomoya Namikoshi (4th)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Shiatsu and massage?
- Shiatsu applies sustained, vertical pressure with the thumbs and palms to vital points across the whole body — distinct from the rubbing and kneading of massage. No oils, no tools, no machines. In Japan, shiatsu is practiced under its own national qualification, the Anma Massage Shiatsu Therapist licence.
- What does the word “Shiatsu” mean?
- “Shiatsu” (指圧) means “finger pressure” in Japanese — shi (指) for finger and atsu (圧) for pressure. The name describes the method exactly: pressure applied with the thumbs and palms to the body's vital points.
- When and where did Shiatsu begin?
- Shiatsu was codified in 1925 by Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905–2000), who systematized the practice on the basis of anatomy and physiology and established the name. The original lineage is carried on today by his family at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
- Is Shiatsu recognized by the Japanese government?
- Yes. In 1964 Shiatsu was recognized in Japanese law as a distinct discipline. Practitioners must hold the national Anma Massage Shiatsu Therapist qualification, which requires formal training in anatomy and physiology.
- Is Shiatsu the same as acupressure?
- They are related but not the same. Both apply pressure to points on the body, but Namikoshi Shiatsu is grounded in anatomy and physiology rather than meridian theory, and in Japan it is performed under the national Anma Massage Shiatsu Therapist licence.
- Where can I experience authentic Shiatsu in Tokyo?
- At Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon, on the mezzanine floor of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo Main Building — the salon run by the founder's own family, four generations on. Open daily 11:00–19:00 (last booking). Reservations: +81-3-3581-7354. Walk-ins are welcome when space allows.
Where to experience
the original Shiatsu
Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon — Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Main Building, Mezzanine Floor.
The founder's lineage, four generations on. Private rooms. English available.
Open daily, 11:00–19:00 (last booking)