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Essential Ohsawa: From Food to Health, Happiness to Freedom
This influential study explores the practice of modern macrobiotics and the philosophy of natural living upon which it is based. It also explains how George Ohsawa, the "Father of Macrobiotics", applied his discoveries of 19th-century Japan to modern life. Photos.
- GenresFood
238 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1994
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About the author
George Ohsawa
48 books36 followersGeorge 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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October 12, 2015This book is very useful for me. I start learning about the ways of helping people living better and happier without diseases. I realise that macrobiotics is the best way to the happy life. My wish can read books related to macrobiotics.
January 11, 2022
George Oshawa seems like such a wonderful and beautiful being who changed the lives of many. As soon as I got this book I fell in love with macrobiotic philosophy and how we can shift the world by starting with out food, by starting with our minds, by starting with ourselves. Macrobiotics pushes you to create, to learn, and to grow, and take responsibility over your life. This book was a great introduction to the philosophy as well as dietary changes of macrobiotics. Many pictures of Oshawa and friends, and first hand stories are spread throughout the book, giving you a sense of how transformative and profound Oshawa was for all those he met. Since reading this, I have already made multiple changes to better myself.
June 19, 2023
The tao of diet
Great distillation of the origins and events that led to George Ohsawa oft being referred to as, "The father of modern macrobiotics."
No other book on macrobiotic philosophy or diet is quite like this, particularly on both a spiritual and inspirational level.
Additionally, one appreciates the lineage and ancestry of macrobiotics and all the amazing pioneers like the Kushis and Aiharas and others who were seminal in the growth of the organic foods movement.
Best part is macrobiotics is within the reach of all and the most affordable diet die to it's emphasis on whole grains as principal foods.
Great distillation of the origins and events that led to George Ohsawa oft being referred to as, "The father of modern macrobiotics."
No other book on macrobiotic philosophy or diet is quite like this, particularly on both a spiritual and inspirational level.
Additionally, one appreciates the lineage and ancestry of macrobiotics and all the amazing pioneers like the Kushis and Aiharas and others who were seminal in the growth of the organic foods movement.
Best part is macrobiotics is within the reach of all and the most affordable diet die to it's emphasis on whole grains as principal foods.
July 8, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews