Cool Japan: Massage

■Cool Japan: Massage

NHK Cool Japan: "Massage" edition.

The word massage is French, but there are many different types, including anma, which originated in China, and shiatsu, which originated in Japan.

Among them, Japan is a major country in the world.

Stiff shoulders have been said to be a national disease, and massage has undergone a unique evolution.

It used to be said that Westerners don't suffer from stiff shoulders, but I hear that with the spread of smartphones and games, stiff shoulders are becoming more prevalent worldwide.

Can Japanese massage bring relaxation to the world?

"Goods"

It seems that it is not actually the case that Japanese people are prone to stiffness and Westerners are not.

In the past, it was said that differences in lifestyle, such as sitting cross-legged and wearing traditional Japanese clothing, were the cause, but that difference no longer exists.

However, compared to Westerners, Japanese people are more aware of the pain of stiffness, so the threshold for massage is lower and they use it casually and without hesitation.

Producing lots of goods for anything is a Japanese specialty, but another factor may be that stiff muscles are more readily available in Japan.

"school"

The national qualification is a combination of the three, called "Anma Massage Shiatsu Therapist."

Massage is a technique performed directly on the skin that was introduced from Europe after the Meiji period.

On the other hand, massage over clothing originated in ancient China and was introduced during the Nara period.

Shiatsu, the technique of pressing with the fingers, originated in Japan during the Taisho period.

Use your fingers to press the acupressure points connected to the affected area.

Shiatsu is now attracting attention around the world, with vocational schools being established one after another in Asia, Europe and the United States.

If smartphones and games make people overseas more aware of their stiff muscles, then Shiatsu may become more popular.

"chair"

When it was first invented about 60 years ago, it was just a big ball sticking out of a chair that opened and closed, but it has evolved since then.

More than 10 years ago, when asked what they would like to bring back to their country, a foreigner answered, "A massage chair."

They say it's a fusion of technology that gently massages the body and beautiful interior design that looks great in the home.

I realized that Japanese massage chairs are the most advanced in the world.

It has continued to evolve since then, and the latest models have become "massage computers" that read each person's body shape and adjust the massage intensity accordingly, with the chairs connected to a communications network and managed using AI and data.

It's like wondering how far it will go.