In which year was the Shiatsu Therapists' Association formed to promote shiatsu as a legitimate profession and to distinguish it from Anma?

In which year was the Shiatsu Therapists' Association formed to promote shiatsu as a legitimate profession and to distinguish it from Anma?

• A. 1912
• B. 1925
• C. 1940
• D. 1985

Answer: (B)

The question tests how shiatsu was professionalized and distinguished from the older Anma practice. In 1925, practitioners formed the Shiatsu Therapists' Association to promote shiatsu as a legitimate, distinct modality and to set it apart from Anma. This move helped standardize training, establish professional credentials, and gain public recognition, signaling a shift from traditional, broader massage practices to a recognized therapeutic profession. Other years don’t fit because they don’t align with the historical moment when a formal body was created to legitimize shiatsu and differentiate it from Anma: 1912 would be early and before the professional organization; 1940 is later and wouldn’t capture the initial move to professional status; 1985 is well after the foundational professionalization had already begun.

The question tests how shiatsu was professionalized and distinguished from the older Anma practice. In 1925, practitioners formed the Shiatsu Therapists' Association to promote shiatsu as a legitimate, distinct modality and to set it apart from Anma. This move helped standardize training, establish professional credentials, and gain public recognition, signaling a shift from traditional, broader massage practices to a recognized therapeutic profession.

Other years don’t fit because they don’t align with the historical moment when a formal body was created to legitimize shiatsu and differentiate it from Anma: 1912 would be early and before the professional organization; 1940 is later and wouldn’t capture the initial move to professional status; 1985 is well after the foundational professionalization had already begun.