Program in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
High interest in reports showing the effectiveness of the Okada Health and Wellness
The “Future Medical Care and Community Enrichment Symposium in Niigata” was held on November 10th at the Niigata Nippo Media Ship Nippo Hall. With the hope of further improving the health of the prefecture’s residents, a keynote speech was given by Kiyoshi Suzuki, Chairman of the MOA Health Science Center (a foundation), who reported on examples of improvements achieved through the Okada Health and Wellness Program, which has a gentle effect on the mind and body, and the growing number of enthusiasts. Approximately 180 people attended the event in person, and approximately 400 people watched the live broadcast at three locations in the prefecture and streamed on YouTube. This experience confirmed the importance of the Okada Health and Wellness Program for health promotion and care.
Following the opening remarks from MOA Tokyo representative Masayuki Ito, Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanakado gave a speech. The governor recognized MOA for its efforts to develop people and towns that are healthy in both body and mind, including promoting health and the spread of natural farming methods. The governor explained that in the hope of extending the healthy life expectancy of the prefecture’s residents, the prefecture is working with a wide range of stakeholders to carry out a prefectural movement called “Niigata, a Healthy Prefecture,” known as the Health Promotion Project. He is also supporting sustainable organic agriculture that leads to good health. He expressed his hope that the symposium would be a fruitful one.
Chairman Suzuki gave a lecture titled “Daily care for prevention and health promotion.” While modern Western medicine and self-care are important, the report noted that the limitations of Western medicine are becoming apparent, citing examples such as the fact that in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, patients whose symptoms did not improve with Western medical treatment were able to improve through massage and art therapy. Chairman Suzuki also shared that in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no effective treatment, and people were unable to go to hospitals, leading to a worsening of chronic illnesses and lifestyle-related diseases. He said that in order to prevent illness and maintain health, it is important to adopt methods to enhance the body’s natural healing ability and to support each other through community ties, and he pointed out that the importance of such care is being re-recognized.
Following the medical model of integrative medicine, Chairman Suzuki touched on research into the social model. He introduced results such as a survey of 1,400 people who had undergone cardiac catheterization five years later, which showed that single people had a mortality rate three times higher than married people. He also shared that eating with others rather than alone reduced the risk of depression, and that participating in neighborhood associations or hobby groups reduced the risk of dementia by three-quarters. He also shared research results showing that sham injections given by a doctor are more effective than machine-administered painkillers, and spoke about the importance of care from loved ones and the community.
Chairman Suzuki touched on MOA’s activities. He introduced research showing that arranging and appreciating flowers reduces stress the most and alleviates stiff shoulders, as well as research showing that Okada Purifying Therapy increases alpha waves, which indicate a relaxing effect, and research showing that out of 60,000 people who underwent treatment, around 70% of them saw their symptoms improve. He then explained that Purifying Therapy is a holistic health method that allows people to feel healing from the greater good and compassion from others. He explained that MOA activities are aligned with integrative medicine and aim to create healthy communities through care.
The panel discussion was coordinated by Mr. Osamu Yamazaki, Director of the Tokamachi/Joetsu Public Health Center. In a session on energy therapy, Shigeichiro Taira, representative of MOA Health Club Sanjo, a volunteer organization registered with the Social Welfare Council, introduced the health seminar initiatives that they hold in the hope of improving the health of many people. Word of mouth has spread about the effectiveness of Purifying Therapy, a type of energy therapy, and the number of people wanting to try it out is increasing. One of these people, qigong master Norio Aoyagi, has seen his neck pain that had plagued him for 20 years improve through continued treatment, his grandson’s unexplained pain after he had completely healed from a heel fracture is now alleviated, and the health of his wife and daughter has also improved. Wanting to help people who are suffering, he obtained the Basic level certification in Purifying Therapy and now volunteers at health seminars, and the number of people trying Purifying Therapy is increasing. He said that what gives meaning to his life is seeing the smiles of people who have been relieved of pain through Purifying Therapy. Aoyagi also spoke, introducing an acquaintance to a health seminar and expressing his joy in his daily work as a therapist.
In the session titled “Healing and Lifestyle Improvement that Begins with Flowers,” Kazuko Suzuki, an MOA Arts and Culture Instructor at the Mokichi Okada Art and Culture Foundation, spoke about her experience of finding healing through flower arranging at the MOA Museum of Art Kohrinka Flower Club and how it helped her overcome a difficult time, as well as sharing the joy and comments of the students taking her Kohrinka classes. Haruko Shimizu, another MOA Arts and Culture Instructor, reported that the flower arranging activity has inspired so much emotion that it has spread to flower arranging at schools for the deaf and among students, inspiring not only the teachers and staff but also the students, leading to it being used in classes. Commenting on this, Seiya Uchida, senior researcher at the MOA Health Science Center, introduced research results showing that viewing flowers can reduce cortisol levels in the blood, which increases due to stress, and that students who are in a space with flowers experience reduced depression, downturn, anger, hostility, and fatigue. He also introduced the parts of the brain that respond to beauty, and said that scientifically speaking, beauty, such as flowers, has a positive effect on the mind and body.
In the session on natural farming and food education, reports were given on the development of rice suitable for natural farming, including “Tokiyutaka” grown in Sado, Niigata, and “Echigo Kirari” grown in Sanjo City. In a video message, Hirokazu Nakai, professor emeritus at Shizuoka University, who led the development of the new rice variety, said that while both the environment and people’s minds and bodies are being damaged, the Earth and humanity can be regenerated by inheriting the techniques and spirit of natural farming and the spirit of Mokichi Okada, the founder of natural farming, who said, “One cannot be happy unless one makes others happy.” He asked people to patronize the new rice variety in order to spread that spirit and techniques. Fujio Hamamoto of the Sado Extension Association, which grows “Tokiyutaka,” spoke of his determination.
Tsutomu Seki, chairman of the MOA Sanjo Extension Association, who was involved in the breeding of Echigo Kirari, took the stage and said that while last year was a scorching hot year and the ratio of first-grade Koshihikari rice produced in Niigata was less than 10%, Echigo Kirari was not affected by the high temperatures at all and had good taste and yield. He said he realized that this variety is also able to adapt to global warming. We hope that Echigo Kirari will grow into a rice that brings joy to the dinner tables of many people. After a video introducing the food education experience session was shown, Chairman Suzuki reviewed the content of the presentations, including how real flowers, not artificial flowers, have an impact on people, and that in medical settings, human warmth is more effective than medicine. He expressed his hope that society will become one in which natural healing power and bonds will be key words.
Regarding the lecture, Governor Hanakaku said, “The talk on bonds and social models was very convincing. I also understood that connections between people and support within the community lead to good health,” and expressed his expectations for future activities. Comments from the audience included, “I wanted to try it when I learned that invisible energy therapy can improve physical ailments,” “I was surprised to hear that looking at flowers can improve stiff shoulders. I didn’t know they had many other benefits either. My interest is piqued,” and “I was surprised to learn that the new rice variety Echigo Kirari is heat tolerant. I was impressed by the hard work that went into breeding it for over 10 years.”
Organized by: MOA Health Science Center (foundation), MOA International (company), MOA Natural Farming Niigata Prefecture Extension Association Sponsored by: Niigata Prefecture, Niigata City, Sado City, Sado Kisen Co., Ltd., The Niigata Nippo Newspaper, BSN Niigata Broadcasting, NST Niigata General Television, TeNY Television Niigata, UX Niigata Television 21, Niigata City Listening Volunteer Kokoro Sponsored by: Niigata Organic Liaison Council, Yumenotani Farm (Agriculture)
