Tokujiro Namikoshi, a pioneer of shiatsu massage whose clients included Marilyn Monroe, died of lung cancer early Monday at a hospital in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, his family said. He was 94.
A native of Kagawa Prefecture, Namikoshi headed the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Japan and Japan Shiatsu College.
Namikoshi, generally credited with popularizing shiatsu, became a celebrity after treating Monroe while she was on a trip to Japan in 1954.
From 1968, Namikoshi appeared on television, gaining popularity with his catch-phrase “Shiatsu no kokoro wa hahagokoro” (The soul of shiatsu is a mother’s soul).
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.