Shiatsu was developed in Japan in the early part of the twentieth century. Its roots date back to the presumably oldest type of bodywork called „Anma“. Anma is at least 7000 years old and was brought from ancient Chinese to Korea and Japan. (Some people suggest that the Anma has been developed over 10,000 years ago in India).

Among the most influential representatives of Shiatsu are Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905-2000) und Shizuto Masunaga (1925-1981). Namikoshi was the founder of the first Shiatsu college in Japan. Shiatsu was first recognized as an individual therapy in Japan. Masunaga was a student of Namikoshis.His focus was to reconcile the eastern and western art of healing. Masunaga developed the tradional meridian system and based his study and practice on a theory which explained his treatment. His approach was informed by his experience as a Shiatsu therapist and his academic education as a psychologist. He established his own form of Shiatsu, the so called „Zen Shiatsu“.