Shiatsu = Noh / Anma = Kabuki

There are two major traditional Japanese manual therapies; one is shiatsu and another is anma.  I think, the static and simple techniques of shiatsu is likened to Noh (traditional masked dance-drama) and the dynamic and various techniques of anma can be likened to Kabuki (traditional drama performed by male actor).

Kabuki

It’s a pity thing that both of Japanese traditional manual therapies are not as common as one used to be. Especially, anma used to be more common folk therapy in Japan. According to one of my clients, she was 92 years old, there used to be a cruising anma-san, a practitioner of anma, in our town, and she often had to run to take anma-san to her home for her grandma who had a back pain. 

Anma involves stroking, kneading, pressure, vibration, percussion, and squeezing techniques, and practitioners of this art vied for skills and techniques. I learned a little bit of anma techniques at a shiatsu college, and I was amazed at the varieties of the techniques. The movement of the practitioner is also accordingly very dynamic and rhythmical.

On the other hand, WHO (World Health Organization) describes shiatsu as a manual therapy of Japanese origin in which pressure is applied with thumbs, palms, etc., to certain points of the body. “Shi” means fingers. “Atsu” means pressure. So literally, shiatsu doesn’t involve other techniques like kneading, percussion, or squeezing (vibration is used, though). Shiatsu maybe looks much easier than anma, but it isn’t.

One day, a shiatsu master was demonstrating at the shiatsu college. Shiatsu is very simple and static, and I couldn’t see why his shiatsu worked and mine didn’t. I really wanted to know the secret of his shiatsu, and I asked him if I could take video of his demonstration so that I can peak at the secret at home. The master said to me, “Yes, you can take video in any angle to your heart’s content, but you cannot see what’s going on between my finger and the recipient’s body.” Isn’t it cool?! Doesn’t he sound like a master of Jedi?

If you have seen Kabuki and Noh, you may understand what I mean. Please don’t get me wrong. Both of anma and shiatsu are great arts, and they are totally different.  I will write about the difference on another chance.

In Japan, people tend to be attracted to more exotic massage like aroma therapy and Ayurveda. I feel like the same thing is happening abroad and the exoticism of shiatsu attracts people outside of Japan. I have a lot of travelers in my shiatsu clinic from all over the world. Ironically, some trend spotters in Japan seem to be rediscovering re-imported shiatsu and anma. Hopefully, flourishing of the traditional Japanese alternative medicine has come back again.