March 16, 2026
On March 16, 2026, through the esteemed support of Amano Keiichiro, Chairman of the Meguro Acupuncture and Moxibustion Association, and the Honorable Imaoka Ueki, Member of the House of Representatives, we were deeply honored to be granted a courtesy audience with the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Honorable Kurihara Wataru.
Accompanied by my wife Yamamoto Kaori and three members of NipponMed, we visited the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Kasumigaseki. There, we joined Amano Keiichiro and Imaoka Ueki and were graciously received in the Vice-Minister’s office.
During the meeting, which lasted approximately thirty minutes, we had the privilege of presenting the history of my relationship with NipponMed, the process that has led us to the present, the current state of acupuncture in Poland, and our future prospects. The meeting concluded in a consistently warm and harmonious atmosphere.
During this spring training program, we were also honored with opportunities to meet distinguished individuals whom we would not ordinarily have the privilege to encounter:
• Łukasz Osmycki, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland
• Aoki Eiji, Mayor of Meguro City
• The Honorable Kurihara Wataru, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health,
Polish NipponMed members visit Japan to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organization!
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all those who extended their kind support, as well as to those who graciously took the time to meet with us.
From a technical perspective, I was able on this occasion to directly transmit to the participants certain teachings which I had not yet been able to share during my visit to Poland in 2024.
We also received invaluable instruction from the esteemed members of the Meguro Acupuncture and Moxibustion Association.
Furthermore, under my direction, the participants traveled to Osaka, where they were graciously received by Inoue Etsuko, Chair of the Pediatric Acupuncture Society, together with its members. There, they were given the opportunity to learn about pediatric acupuncture, experience it firsthand, and study valuable materials.
During this time, they were also able to meet a long-standing friend of mine̶the designer of the NipponMed logo̶and, after ten years, express their gratitude to him in person.
Although the training lasted only approximately two weeks, the schedule was exceptionally full, and all participants spent their days in constant activity.
The program concluded with the official visit to the Parliamentary Vice-Minister.
Upon leaving the Ministry, the accumulated fatigue of the entire group surfaced all at once.
From there, we proceeded to Haneda Airport, and the participants returned to their home country. Approximately twenty-six hours after departure, they were reunited with their families and kindly shared many photographs with us.
Over the past decade, the path has by no means been easy. Yet, thanks to Oskar̶the founder of NipponMed̶as well as his family and colleagues who have supported him, we have been able to arrive at this point.
The path of medical and martial discipline that I have studied is founded upon the principle of “furyū monji, kyōge betsuden”̶a transmission beyond words and outside formal teachings. It is with deep respect that I acknowledge the NipponMed members’ profound understanding of this principle.
In recognition of their efforts, achievements, and contributions that have led to this moment, I conferred upon Oskar a black belt bearing the name “Ibudō” (the Way of Medicine and Martial Arts). As he is also an Aikido instructor, he received this with great appreciation, which brought me sincere joy as well.
Through this training, many developments have begun to move forward significantly. We have no intention of remaining at rest, and have already initiated actions toward our next stage.
My wife Yamamoto Kaori has also begun offering online classes in Kampo medicine for NipponMed members who have a particular interest in this field. Moving forward, we will continue to transmit not only acupuncture but also the wisdom of Kampo medicine and traditional dietary therapy to Poland.
What form will our twentieth anniversary take?
We look toward it with great anticipation.
Kakikofu will continue to share the wisdom of traditional Japanese acupuncture and Kampo medicine, thereby contributing to the further strengthening of friendship between Japan and the Republic of Poland through the medium of traditional medicine.
Kakikofu
Yamamoto Hiroshi / Yamamoto Kaori
