Choosing a nationally
licensed practitioner
in Japan.

Do you need a licence to practise shiatsu in Japan?

In Japan, anyone other than a physician who practises anma, massage or shiatsu as a business must hold the national licence of Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner (Act No. 217 of 1947, Article 1). The licence is granted to people who complete at least three years of training and pass the national examination conducted by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (Article 2). After passing, the licence takes effect on registration in the Ministry's register (Article 3-2).

Only a physician may practise medicine (Medical Practitioners' Act, Article 17). A session with a licensed Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner is not a substitute for diagnosis by a physician.

Does the word “seitai” tell you about a qualification?

Seitai is not itself a national qualification (MHLW leaflet). Someone working under that name may still hold a different national licence. Rather than judging by the name on the door, check the qualification of the person who will see you.

Practices such as seitai are not banned across the board. Article 12 of the Act prohibits, as a business, quasi-medical practices other than anma, massage, shiatsu, acupuncture, moxibustion and judo therapy. In its judgment of 27 January 1960, the Grand Bench of the Supreme Court held that this prohibition covers only practices that risk harming people's health.

In the same year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that this judgment did not rule on anma, acupuncture, moxibustion or judo therapy (Notice Ihatsu No. 247-1). Practising anma, massage or shiatsu as a business without a licence remains punishable under the Act (Article 13-7).

How can you check before booking?

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare points to the sign outside, which should state the national qualification, and to the notices inside. Inside, look for a notice that the practice has been notified to the authorities, and for the licence or a document giving its details. Some practitioners also wear an official licence card issued on behalf of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW leaflet).

That card is optional and issued only to those who apply for it. Not having one does not, on its own, mean that someone is unlicensed. If nothing is displayed, ask at reception for the exact title of your practitioner's national qualification.

Does a national licence guarantee safety?

No. A licence does not guarantee the outcome or the safety of a session, and even licensed shiatsu may not suit every condition. If you have a medical condition or feel unsure about your health, consult a physician before a session, and see one promptly if you feel unwell afterwards.

What have public bodies advised?

On 26 May 2017, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency issued a caution about manual techniques that have no legal qualification system. It drew on 1,483 accident reports registered between September 2009 and March 2017, including cases where the facts and the causal link had not been confirmed. The Agency also asked people with an illness to consult a physician before such a session.

In FY2025 the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan received 491 reports of harm involving “seitai” (registered by the end of May 2026). This figure is grouped by the name of the service, not by whether the practitioner held a licence.