Italy
Dr. Fulvio Palombini and the Italian School of Shiatsu of Rome hosted a series of shiatsu seminars in Frascati (Roma) from October 23 - 25th at Centro Giovanni XXIII.

The seminars were a huge success. Rome has a very strong shiastu following which was apparent from the number of people who attended the shiatsu seminars in Rome. Approximately 400 people attended these seminars. Practitioners came from all over Italy and also Spain for the three day seminars. Four organizations had collective seminars. The four shiatsu organizations and schools that collaborated and hosted the shiatsu seminars in Frascati were: Dr. Fulvio Palombini and Scuola Italiana Shiatsu Roma; Associazione Italiana Shiatsu; Albo Professionale Operatori Shiatsu; and the Associazone Scuole Shiatsu Italiane.

Keynote speakers were: Matsuko Namikoshi, the International Shiatsu Association Chairman, Keigo Inaba, Chairman of Japan Shiatsu Assocation, Japan; Kensen Saito, Prinicipal and Director of Shiatsu Academy of Tokyo - Toronto, Canada; Shigeru Onoda, Escuela Japonesa de Shiatsu - Madrid, Spain; and Fulvio Palombini, Scuola Italiana Shiatsu Roma - Italia. Kazutami Namikoshi, Director of Japan Shiastu College who also attended, made an opening speech. The subjects of the presenters were as follows: Matsuko Namikoshi and Keigo Inaba demonstrated the Namikoshi shiatsu methods. Kensen Saito presented the topic of Shiatsu Educational Standards and gave a demonstration on self-administered shiastu on the upper limb. Shigera Onada presented the topic on Namikoshi shiatsu Evolution in Europe and gave a demonstration on the lower back section. Fulvio Palombini presented the Namikoshi Shiatsu Development in Italy and demonstrated shiatsu on the dorsal cervical region.


HOLLAND
Shiatsu seminars will be held in the Netherlands from November 18 - 21.The seminar presentations will be held by Matsuko Namikoshi and Takashi Namikoshi. Please contact Paula Kobayashi at 0172-415451. The seminars will be held at the Kobayshi Medisch Shiatsu Centrum, Kalkovenweg 52c, Alphen aan den Rijn.


Australia
Obituary
Melbourne, Australia Shiatsu pioneer Michiyo Urakawa, the eldest of 2 sisters, who as a team taught and shared the teachings of Tokujiro Namikoshi, passed away on Oct. 4/04. The 11th International Shiatsu Conference was held in Melbourne, Australia in 1993 and was organized by the Australian Shiatsu Association. The Urakawa sisters prepared for this conference and were real shiatsu pioneers in Australia. They practiced the Namikoshi shiatsu technique for thirty years. They immigrated to Australia in 1974 and opened their clinic in 1979.