Revisiting Shinkiko Retreat Center after an 7 years...
Ms. Kikuko Miyazaki Zutrau
In this May Ms. Kikuko Miyazaki Zutrau participated in Shinkiko Retreat Seminar from Boston. Her first participation of Shinkiko Retreat seminar was in August, 1993 at Shimoda. After 5 years she participated again in 1998. This time it was 3rd participation for her. In this Hi Genki Magazine, Mr. Koei Kuwahara has been writing serial story "Search for lights and gratitude our lives". In his 5th story, Ms. Kikuko was introduced as a principal of Boston Shiatsu School. She was called by her nickname "Kiku" by everybody.
"I broke my both hips and have Parkinson's disease. It is hard for me to participate Shinkiko Retreat seminar. But with many people's help and I felt supports from God, I could decided to go just 3 days before our departure. I was really happy to come to Ikoma. The root of Shiatsu and acupuncture is Ki energy.", she said. I would like to introduce what I learned about her experience.
[interviewed by Reiko Suda]
Born in America, grew up in Japan and returned to America after the war......
I was born in Seattle as second to the oldest of 4 sisters. My father was a vice consul in Consular office there. I and my family went back to Japan when I was 2 months. After that my father went to several Embassies such as Thailand and so on, and I stayed in Japan with my mother and extended family. In 1941, when my father transferred to Baghdad in Iraq, we went together. At that time air travel was not very developed. In order to go to Baghdad, we went to Karachi, India by ship and took an airplane to Baghdad.
Soon after we arrived there in March, the war seemed to be escalating. Both German and British army wanted an abundance of oil in Iraq and advanced toward Baghdad. As they got closer we were given an order to evacuate in 24 hours, we left hurriedly and stayed in Karachi to wait for a cargo ship from Japan about one month. Many business men were sent to camp in India when war broke out but we luckily were able to get back to Japan in November.
One month later, however, the war started and Japan was getting into a difficult situation. After 4 years, in August 1945, the war came to an end. I could speak English a little bit, so I started to work in the office of the Occupation Forces. I worked as a secretary in the section which reformed Japanese education system to 6 years, 3 years and 3 years like in the US.
Right after the war, Japan was confused and everybody was as much as they could do to live. My father wrote an article about "the breakdown of Great Britain, how British colony in Asia collapsed" in some book. He was worried if he could be a war criminal or not, so he resigned the Ministry Department of Foreign Affairs and transferred to a principal of private school. At that time, Japan was not interesting for me at all. Then I ordered my birth certificate from Seattle, U.S. Government gave me a citizenship. I went to United States when I was 21, went to the university at South Dakota and studied biology and science. Actually my first target was medical science but it was beyond my capacity, so I took the second best.
After I graduated I worked in New York and married at 31 years old. My husband was Norwegian British American, 4 years older than I and he was a painter. Soon I married I was invited for a party. Japanese lady demonstrated for Shiatsu massage. I thought it was really good and someday I would like to study it.
I had 5 children and spent most of my time nursing, doing housework and working for juggling household expenses. My husband was an artist....... Feeling was the most important thing for an artist, rather than family or household. He had difficulty establishing good human relationships.
Inducting Shiatsu in America and Europe after raising children
When the children were almost grown up, I started to study my long-cherished desire Shiatsu in school when I was 48. That school was just established by Mr. Ohashi and it was the first Shiatsu school in United States. After 2 years study, I graduated and at the same time I started to teach there. Mr. Ohashi established several schools in Europe and I went to Switzerland, Italy, England and Germany to teach. One of these days I met Mr. Kishi in Paris who was a practitioner doing healing by Ki energy using his hands. I stayed in Paris for 2 months and studied Energy from him.
In 1986, I established New England Shiatsu Center with 2 American ladies. They had their own way and I was not able to go along with their ideas. Finally one year later I was independent and established Boston School of Ki. In three years the name of the school was changed to Boston Shiatsu School.
Our style of Shiatsu is called Zen Shiatsu [Mr. Masunaga's teaching] and I was able to spread the understanding of the theory of shiatsu and with the cooperation of many people established an association called AOBTA [American Organization Body Therapy of Asia] in order to protect legally by creating a license to practice. I guess nowadays the modalities by creating a license to practice. I guess nowadays the entry groups of AOBTA are 10 and their members will be over 2,000 people. I think most people will not know who established this organization.
In 1991, Mr. Koei Kuwahara came to Boston and had lectures. He needed someone translated for his lecture and I did it for him. It was the first time to meet Mr. Kuwahara. He was a acupuncturist but he did not stick needles, instead he used his hands. I thought it was good and I asked him to teach in my school.
The year after, Mr. Kuwahara said he went to Japan, so I asked where he went. He answered he went to the Shinkiko seminar Dr. Nakagawa held. One member cancelled, so I went together with him.
Seminar in Shimoda was very interesting. Late Dr. Nakagawa was always smiling and good at talking just like a comic storyteller. While a participant received Shinkiko, he started to speak I was worried about my grandchildren. Late Dr. Nakagawa explained this was a negative entity and he talked to the entity, " you already died and did not have your body, so please go to the light."
After this seminar, Mr. Kuwahara wanted to open Shinkiko Class in my school. I was very interested in Shinkiko, so I totally agreed about it.
One year later, late Dr. Nakagawa visited Boston and had seminar. I know Mr. Kuwahara wrote about it already. My son worked in my school as well, so they were working together to look for the place and let many people know about the seminar.
My sickness brought me an important awareness
This time, George collected contributions for me to come to Ikoma and Sandra who was scheduled to go at the beginning cancelled so she gave me her air ticket. By the grace of everybody help, I was able to participate Shinkiko Retreat seminar. I did not have any confidence on my health however I felt God said, "There is nothing worry about, please go." I believed God was calling me to Ikoma, so I should not worry about. Then I decided to go to Ikoma in 6 hours since Mr. Kuwahara gave me a call.
In 2001, I fell down with holding my grandchildren in park and broke my top part of right thighbone. I had a surgery and put metal things. I did not injure or get sick so often, so I thought it would be better soon and I did not go to rehabilitation seriously. Gradually my muscle was getting weaker and did not get well..... It took 3 years and when I thought it was better, I bumped on the revolving door and broke left thighbone.
I was so depressed why these accidents happened repeatedly. I was diagnosed
As a Parkinson's disease when I broke my right thighbone. Then I had symptoms just like a cold after second fracture and had depression. At that time many negative energy came to me at once. My energy level was so low, that is why I attracted so many negativities.
I believed depression was own sake. I never know at least I experience what exactly depression was. It was not easy to overcome this situation. I knew I did not study enough. It must be something I was able to study, if so I better learn as soon as possible.
When I look back, I realize I am self-satisfaction and have my own way, lack of understanding and consideration others. I really understood it was really important to listen what people said. I am able to learn so many things up to now, I am still fluttering.
Last time I participated Shinkiko Retreat seminar, I was quite alright, so I was interested but just had fun. This time I was very sick and I was able to see from a different perspective. It was really good for me. No matter how badly I felt, it did not matter. I realized even in the difficult situation, it is wonderful if we are able to feel happiness and feel blessed. I would like to be like that.
In other seminars, there are people who are jealous or critical of others. In Shinkiko seminar, there is no body like that. On the last day, we had performance time. I was so surprised that how everybody could create such a wonderful performance in short time. Skits were just like children's play but it was great and funny. They do not know each other but they are able to create one complete thing together. Shinkiko teaches how to do it. By following Shinkiko teachings, it is no wonder everybody have good relationships.
When I came to Ikoma I walked with a cane and a walker. On the third day, I felt so light and I was able to walk without a cane. Everybody was clapping hands and was pleased about it. On the last day I was able to walk around desk 5 times and staff members came down from the upper floor and they were also clapping their hands. I was so happy to receive a lot of good energy from many people.
The late Dr. Nakagawa was so impressive showing his wonderful skill, but present Mr. Nakagawa is quiet , has strength and so wonderful. I respect how he has been elevating Shinkiko by following own positive sense. I believe he is able to receive a lot of support from the universe. I am very much looking forward to seeing him again.
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