Aruba | Michiko Fujiwara and Tadashi Nakatsuji Discuss

ARITOMO

Part 1: Michiko Fujiwara x Tadashi Nakatsuji, Host of "Renewing Therapy"

Aging, Pain, and Middle-Age Spread: The Cause Was in the Muscles

Tadashi Nakatsuji, who developed the "Facial Muscle Method" and runs the anti-aging salon "Renewing Therapy" in Aoyama, Tokyo. Michiko Fujiwara, who is diligent about correcting her own body's imbalances due to her profession, shares a conversation with Nakatsuji, whom she wanted to be treated by after seeing an article about him in a magazine. They discuss treatment and their new, natural cosmetics, revealed here for the first time.

Photographs by TAKADA MiduhoText by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)

Only the surface muscles are relaxed, which is why the problem recurs.

The name of Mr. Nakatsuji's salon, "Renewing Therapy," comes from its unique treatment method,──An unprecedented anti-aging treatment that is neither skincare nor massage.──which signifies "to become beautiful again, to become youthful again, from within the body."

FujiwaraI myself have been working on relaxing muscles to correct my body's imbalances for over 10 years. I'd reach a certain point, but I hit the limits of my own methods. That's when I saw Mr. Nakatsuji's article in a magazine and thought, 'This is it! I want this person to treat me!'

NakatsujiMs. Fujiwara continued treatments for about a year and a half. Generally, when people think of "stretching," they imagine relaxing muscles, but that only affects the superficial muscles. To truly improve, you need to relax the deep muscles attached to the bones. Because only the surface muscles are relaxed, pain and imbalances recur.

FujiwaraBut treatments for deep muscles aren't very common. My own belief is that "relaxing muscles is key to correcting the body," but how many years have you been practicing, Mr. Nakatsuji?

NakatsujiI've been studying and practicing deep muscle therapy for over 20 years. Including my time at a bone-setting clinic before that, it's been 33 years.

FujiwaraWhen I met you, Mr. Nakatsuji, and heard about "relaxing deep muscles," I was completely convinced and asked for treatment. At the beginning of the sessions, even though you weren't applying much pressure, it hurt.

NakatsujiHuman bodies, including muscles and blood vessels, age. I focus my research specifically on muscles. When people think of "muscles," they often assume it's about building them up, but first, we need to address unhealthy muscles.

FujiwaraHow was my body?

NakatsujiThe moment I touched Ms. Fujiwara's muscles, I knew they had "old injuries." When you were younger, you must have strained your muscles severely, and they became hardened and remained. When stress is applied to these areas, they cause surrounding muscles to stiffen, leading to shoulder stiffness and headaches.

FujiwaraI see. That makes a lot of sense. The posture I use when doing hair and makeup is very unnatural for my body.

Chasing Symptoms Like Shoulder or Lower Back Pain Won't Lead to a Cure

NakatsujiWhen you maintain the same posture and perform the same tasks for extended periods, your muscles become unable to relax. Even a bath won't return them to their normal state, leading to circulatory problems in the muscles. This prevents nutrients from reaching them, weakening the muscles, causing inflammation and pain. If left untreated, these issues remain as old injuries within the muscles.

FujiwaraWhen I receive treatment from you, Mr. Nakatsuji, I feel a deep, resonant pain within my body.

NakatsujiWhen people experience pain in their shoulders or lower back, they tend to treat the affected area. However, you shouldn't chase the symptoms. Pain and injury don't always align. For example, bunions can cause lower back pain.

FujiwaraI understand that. The body is connected. When I receive your treatments, Mr. Nakatsuji, my muscles relax so much that I always fall asleep (laughs). Now that my muscles have loosened considerably, I'm attending Pilates to maintain that state.

NakatsujiMs. Fujiwara, you actively try many things yourself, so you understand your body well. However, initially, your legs and neck were quite problematic. Old strains from the past remained in your muscles, making them stiff. As we age, our muscles naturally become stiffer and atrophy. When muscles atrophy, they can lead to a condition called 'sclerotic hypertrophy' or hardening.

FujiwaraWhen muscles become sclerotic, it leads to swelling and then makes it easier to gain weight, right?

NakatsujiThat's right. The cause of what is commonly known as middle-age spread is also muscle atrophy.