Shiatsu

Shiatsu (Kanji: 指圧 Hiragana: しあつ) is Japanese for "finger pressure"; it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence for any medical efficacy of shiatsu,^[1][2] but some shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression.

There are two main Shiatsu schools: one incorporating elements of evidence-based anatomy and physiology, and the other based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Shiatsu is usually performed on a futon mat, with clients fully clothed. It is also performed on horses.^{[citation needed]}

Shiatsu was invented by Tokujiro Namikoshi; he founded the first shiatsu college in 1940.^[2]