:Michio Kushi
{{Npov|date=May 2024}}{{short description|Japanese macrobiotics entrepreneur}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Michio Kushi
| image = File:Michio Kushi.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|05|17}}
| birth_place = Kokawa, Wakayama prefecture, Japan
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|12|28|1926|05|17}}
| death_place = Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| known_for = introducing macrobiotics to the West & establishing wholefood industry
| education = Political Science
| alma_mater = University of Tokyo
| occupation = Author, Lecturer
| predecessor =
| successor =
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{Marriage|Aveline Kushi|1954|2001|end=d}}
- {{Marriage|Midori Kushi|2001|end=}}
}}
| signature =
}}
{{Nihongo|Michio Kushi|久司 道夫|Kushi Michio}} (May 17, 1926 – December 28, 2014) was a Japanese educator and alternative cancer treatment advocate who helped to introduce modern macrobiotics to the United States in the early 1950s. He lectured all over the world at conferences and seminars about the macrobiotic diet.
Background
After World War II, Kushi studied in Japan with macrobiotic educator, George Ohsawa. After coming to America in 1949, Michio Kushi and Aveline Kushi, his wife, founded Erewhon Natural Foods, the East West Journal, the East West Foundation, the Kushi Foundation, One Peaceful World, and the Kushi Institute. They wrote over 70 books.
Kushi studied law and international relations at the University of Tokyo, and after coming to America, he continued his studies at Columbia University in New York City. Aveline preceded him in death (2001), as did their daughter (1995). Michio Kushi lived in Brookline, Massachusetts. He died of pancreatic cancer on December 28, 2014, at the age of 88.{{cite web |last=Lewin |first=Tamar |title=Michio Kushi, Advocate of Natural Foods in the U.S., Dies at 88 | newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 5, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/us/michio-kushi-advocate-of-natural-foods-in-the-us-dies-at-88.html |url-access=subscription}}
Achievements
File:Brookline Village, Brookline, MA MBTA D-Train stop.JPG
File:Kushi Institute, Becket, Massachusetts, 1996 01.jpg
File:Kushi Institute, Becket, Massachusetts, 1996 02.jpg
- 1994 Kushi received the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers.http://www.kushimacrobiotics.com/pdf/201994.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}
- 1999 Mentioned in the Congressional record in recognition of the dedication and hard work to educate the world about the benefits of a macrobiotic diet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1999/6/7/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1138-1|title = Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks Articles}}
- 1999 The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History opened a permanent collection on macrobiotics and alternative health care in his name. The title of the collection is the "Michio and Aveline Kushi Macrobiotics Collection". It is located in the Archives Center.{{Source?|date=May 2024}}
Michio and his first wife Aveline were founders of The Kushi Institute, located in Becket, Massachusetts through 2016, but formerly in a converted factory building in Brookline Village, Massachusetts, adjacent to Mission Hill, Boston.
He and his first wife were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award for their "extraordinary contribution to diet, health, and world peace, and for serving as powerful examples of conscious living", on October 14, 2000.[http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214172308/http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html |date=February 14, 2009 }}
Cancer
Kushi argued that conventional cancer treatments are "violent and artificial" and promoted his macrobiotic diet to treat cancer.{{cite journal|year=1993|title=Questionable methods of cancer management: 'nutritional' therapies|journal=CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians|volume=43|issue=5|pages=309–319|doi=10.3322/canjclin.43.5.309|pmid=8364770|doi-access=free}} There is no clinical evidence that the macrobiotic diet is effective to treat cancer. The American Cancer Society asked Kushi for documentation of his cancer claims. The reply contained no clinical data.
Nutritionists have criticized Kushi's claim that a macrobiotic diet can cure cancer. Elizabeth Whelan and Frederick J. Stare have noted that:
Kushi's claim that cancer is largely due to his own versions of improper diet, thinking, and lifestyle is entirely without foundation. In his books, Kushi has recounted numerous case histories of persons whose cancer allegedly disappeared after following a macrobiotic diet. There are no available statistics on the outcome for all of these patients, but it is documented that at least some of them succumbed to their disease within a relatively short period. Reported testimonials of remission often uncovered the fact that the patients were also receiving conventional medical treatment at the same time.Stare, Frederick J; Whelan, Elizabeth. (1998). Fad-Free Nutrition. Hunter House Publishers. p. 127. {{ISBN|0-89793-237-4}}
Selected publications
- 1976: Introduction to Oriental Diagnosis. Red Moon Publications. {{ISBN|9780906111000}}
- 1977: The Book of Macrobiotics. Japan Publications {{ISBN|9780870403811}}
- 1979: The Book of Do-In. Japan publications. {{ISBN|9780870403828}}
- 1979: Natural Healing Through Macrobiotics. Japan Publications; (December 1979) {{ISBN|9780870404573}}
- 1980: How to See Your Health: Book of Oriental Diagnosis. Japan Publications (USA) (December 1980) {{ISBN|9780870404672}}
- 1982: Cancer and Heart Disease: The Macrobiotic Approach to Degenerative Disorders. Japan publications. {{ISBN|9780870405150}}
- 1983: Your Face Never Lies. Wayne; (May 1, 1983) {{ISBN|9780895292148}}
- 1983: Macrobiotic Pregnancy and Care of the Newborn. Japan publications. {{ISBN|9780870405310}}
- 1983: The Cancer Prevention Diet. St Martin's Press. {{ISBN|9780722515402}}
- 1985: Macrobiotic Diet. Japan publications. {{ISBN|9780870405358}}
- 1985: Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia: A Natural Approach. Japan publications. {{ISBN|9780870406157}}
- 1986: Macrobiotic Child Care and Family Health. Japan publications. 1986. {{ISBN|9780870406126}}
- 1986: On the Greater View: Collected Thoughts and Ideas on Macrobiotics and Humanity. Wayne NJ. {{ISBN|9780895292698}}
- 1990: AIDS, Macrobiotics and Natural Immunity. Japan Publications. {{ISBN|978-0870406805}}
- 1990: The Gentle Art of Making Love. Avery Pub Group (May 1990) {{ISBN|9780895294357}}
- 1991: The Macrobiotic Approach to Cancer. Garden City Park. {{ISBN|9780895294869}}
- 1991: Macrobiotics and Oriental Medicine. Japan publications {{ISBN|9780870406591}}
- 1992: The Gospel of Peace : Jesus's Teachings of Eternal Truth. Japan publications. {{ISBN|9780870407970}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- [http://sova.si.edu/details/NMAH.AC.0619?q=*&s=0&n=10 Smithsonian Institute's Michio and Aveline Kushi Macrobiotics Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630100313/https://sova.si.edu/details/NMAH.AC.0619?q=*&s=0&n=10 |date=June 30, 2021 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kushi, Michio}}
Category:Alternative cancer treatment advocates
Category:Columbia University alumni
Category:Japanese expatriates in the United States
Category:Macrobiotic diet advocates
Category:People from Becket, Massachusetts
Category:People from Brookline, Massachusetts