George Ohsawa’s Followers (36)

George Ohsawa

Born

in Japan

October 18, 1893

Died

April 23, 1966

Genre

Self Help, Macrobiotics, Judo

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George Ohsawa, born Nyoichi Sakurazawa, was the founder of the Macrobiotic diet and philosophy. When living in Europe he went by the pen names of Musagendo Sakurazawa, Nyoiti Sakurazawa, and Yukikazu Sakurazawa. He also used the French first name Georges while living in France, and his name is sometimes also given in this spelling.

Ohsawa was born in a family whose father was descended directly from samurai. But this was the period of the Meiji Restoration and his family was very poor. He had to leave school after the compulsory high school as there was no money for higher education. This is when his spiritual path started. Around 1913 he met up with Nishibata Manabu (a direct disciple of the late Sagen Ishizuka) and studied with him in Toky George Ohsawa, born Nyoichi Sakurazawa, was the founder of the Macrobiotic diet and philosophy. When living in Europe he went by the pen names of Musagendo Sakurazawa, Nyoiti Sakurazawa, and Yukikazu Sakurazawa. He also used the French first name Georges while living in France, and his name is sometimes also given in this spelling.

Ohsawa was born in a family whose father was descended directly from samurai. But this was the period of the Meiji Restoration and his family was very poor. He had to leave school after the compulsory high school as there was no money for higher education. This is when his spiritual path started. Around 1913 he met up with Nishibata Manabu (a direct disciple of the late Sagen Ishizuka) and studied with him in Tokyo in the movement Shoku-yo Kai.

Ohsawa also mentions in his books how he cured himself from tuberculosis at age 19 using what he knew about the ancient yin-yang concepts.

Later he travelled to Europe, particularly Paris, France where he started to spread his philosophy (it is in this period he supposedly adopted his new pen name "Ohsawa", after the French "oh, ca va" which means "all right" or "I'm doing fine" as a reply to the question "how are you doing ?"). After several years he returned to Japan to start a foundation, and gather recruits for his now formalized philosophy. After drawing attention to himself during World War II for his pacifist ideals, he moved his institution to a remote area in the mountains of Yamanashi prefecture.

It is presumed that he got the western name for his movement from a book written by Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland, a famous Prussian physician. It is known that he spent time in Europe with a descendant of Hufeland.

Several of his Japanese disciples were also instrumental in disseminating Macrobiotics in the West. They are, in particular, Herman Aihara in California, Roland Yasuhara in Belgium (where LIMA, the well-known manufacturer of macrobiotic products saw the light of day), and Michio Kushi in Massachusetts. ...more

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George Ohsawa’s books

Average rating: 4.02 · 321 ratings · 34 reviews · 48 distinct works • Similar authors

	Zen Macrobiotics: The Art of Rejuvenation and Longevity 3.97 avg rating — 102 ratings — published 1986 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Order of the Universe 4.10 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 1986 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Macrobiotics: An Invitation to Health and Happiness by George Ohsawa, Herman Aihara 4.07 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 1978 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Essential Ohsawa: From Food to Health, Happiness to Freedom by George Ohsawa, Sakurazawa Nyoiti 4.42 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 1994 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Philosophy of Oriental Medicine: Key to Your Personal Judging Ability 4.55 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 1991 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unique Principle Philosophy of Macrobiotics 3.67 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 1931 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Macrobiotics: The Way of Healing 4.63 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 1984 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Macrobiotic Guidebook for Living and Other Essays by George Ohsawa, Herman Aihara (translator) 3.60 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 1947 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Le livre des fleurs 4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1989 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Những Chàng Trai Huyền Thoại 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by George Ohsawa (?)

“Life can be so easy. Refuse to let go and you are a person drowning; the more you struggle, the faster you sink. ”
― George Ohsawa

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“Yin and yang are the left and right hands of the Infinite — creator, destroyer, and reproducer of everything that exists.”
― George Ohsawa

tags: food, health, macrobiotics, philosophy, spirituality, tai-chi, tao, universe, yin-yang

4 likes

“One should not punish a criminal unless one is able to help that criminal understand the constitution of the universe".”
― George Ohsawa, Essential Ohsawa: From Food to Health, Happiness to Freedom

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George Ohsawa’s Followers (36)

George Ohsawa

Combine EditionsGeorge Ohsawa’s books

Combine Editions
George Ohsawa’s books