George Ohsawa
George Ohsawa, born Yukikazu Sakurazawa on October 18, 1893, in Kyoto, Japan, was a prominent philosopher, teacher, and writer known for introducing the macrobiotic diet to Europe and the West. His work was deeply influenced by the principles of yin and yang, which emphasize balance and harmony in life for achieving health and well-being. Despite coming from a low-income background that limited his formal education, Ohsawa became a self-taught scholar, studying under Manabu Nishibata, a disciple of the physician Sagen Ishizuka, who is often credited with establishing formal macrobiotics.
Ohsawa claimed to have cured himself of tuberculosis through traditional dietary practices, which shaped his belief in the healing power of food. He authored numerous books discussing the macrobiotic diet's potential to improve both physical and emotional health, and he controversially linked these principles to broader social issues, including the causes of war. A peace activist, Ohsawa also practiced an ancient Japanese method called sanpaku, which involves predicting health outcomes based on eye characteristics. His teachings have been further propagated by disciples like Herman Aihara, who founded the George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation in San Francisco.
While some of Ohsawa's ideas are viewed as lacking scientific backing, he is recognized as a key figure in the modern macrobiotic movement, advocating for the importance of whole foods and their impact on health. His influence continued to resonate during the counterculture movements of the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting the relationship between diet, health, and the environment.
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George Ohsawa
- Born: October 18, 1893; Kyoto, Japan
- Died: April 23, 1966; Tokyo, Japan
ALSO KNOWN AS: Yukikazu Sakurazawa
Overview
George Ohsawa was a Japanese philosopher, teacher, and writer who was said to have brought the macrobiotic diet and associated philosophy to Europe from Japan. His practices were largely based on the long-standing Asian principle of yin and yang, a specific type of equilibrium or balance believed to bring health and well-being to those who follow the related principles.
Ohsawa was born to a low-income family with no money for higher education. Despite this, he is said to have been an excellent student and reportedly educated himself in many subjects in his early life. Around 1913, he began studying in Tokyo with Manabu Nishibata, a direct disciple of Japanese physician Sagen Ishizuka, potentially the originator of formal macrobiotics (shokuiku). Ohsawa’s studies at this time were reportedly focused on the examination of shokuiku. In some of his publications, Ohsawa claimed that he cured himself of tuberculosis at about the age of eighteen years using traditional dietary principles that originated in Japan and China.
Ohsawa wrote many books (in various languages) about the macrobiotic diet and related principles. He wrote that observing macrobiotics could improve not only human physical health but also emotional health. In one of his books, he indicated that macrobiotics could shed light on a number of social problems and even causes of war, a time-appropriate claim given that he was writing during a period when atomic war was looming. According to Japanese records, Ohsawa was a peace activist.
Ohsawa also was said to have practiced an ancient Japanese method called sanpaku, whereby a person’s health and overall well-being can be predicted based on the coloring of the white areas around the iris of the eyes. Using this ancient method, he reportedly predicted the premature deaths of certain American public figures, including US President John F. Kennedy and actor-entertainer Marilyn Monroe.
Several of Ohsawa’s disciples were instrumental in spreading the macrobiotic diet and its philosophy to the Western world, including parts of Europe, South America, and North America. In particular, a student of Ohsawa named Herman Aihara founded a study center and foundation in San Francisco named in Ohsawa’s honor—the George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation—dedicated to providing education and products relevant to macrobiotics and Ohsawa’s teachings.
Although some of Ohsawa’s ideas lack scientific evidence, he is considered one of the founders of the modern macrobiotic movement and responsible for combining macrobiotic ideas with traditional diet. His advocation of whole foods and understanding the importance of diet on overall health is widely supported in the twenty-first century. While some of Ohsawa’s ideas remain controversial, his ability to seize on the popularity of alternative and counterculture movements in the 1960s and 1970s to promote overall health and well-being created a foundational understanding of the relationship between food, health, and the environment.
Bibliography
"George Ohsawa." Strengthening Health Institute, shimacrobiotics.org/george-ohsawa. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.
Han, Yoonji. "Inside the World of Zen Macrobiotics, Which Fueled the Birth of Erewhon." Business Insider, 12 Nov. 2023, www.businessinsider.com/macrobiotics-diet-george-ohsawa-erewhon-history-2023-11. Accessed 8 Sept. 2024.
"Macrobiotics." In Complementary and Alternative Medicine Sourcebook, edited by Amy L. Sutton. Omnigraphics, 2010.
Ohsawa, George. Macrobiotics: An Invitation to Health and Happiness. George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation, 1978.
Ohsawa, George. The Unique Principle: The Philosophy of Macrobiotics. Chico, Calif.: George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation, 1973.
Ohsawa, George. Zen Macrobiotics: The Art of Rejuvenation and Longevity. 4th ed. Chico, Calif.: George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation, 1995.
Shurtleff, William, and Akiko Aoyagi. "George Ohsawa, Macrobiotics, and Soyfoods Part 1." Soyinfo Center, 2004, www.soyinfocenter.com/HSS/george‗ohsawa‗macrobiotics‗soyfoods1.php. Accessed 8 Sept. 2024.