Ryokyu Endo follows up his critically acclaimed book, Tao Shiatsu - Life Medicine for the 21st Century with this new publication on the original Japanese form of medical hand healing. Co-authored by Michael Christini who teaches Tao Shiatsu in Australia and New Zealand, and Tzvika Calisar who teaches Tao Shiatsu in Japan, Israel, Europe and North America, the book explains:

- ki principles for working and living with life-energy

- how to "see" meridians

- the Ki-method to release pain, strengthen vitality, and heal imbalances through tsubo treatment points.

The book's style is clear, concise and accessible to all readers.

Divided into two sections, in the first Endo describes his discovery of shiatsu in his teenage years, followed by studying with the founder of Zen Shiatsu, Master Shizuto Masunaga, who popularised meridian shiatsu in the West. Endo's training as a Mahayana Buddhist priest and his experience of becoming able to "see" ki, and the meridian flow are told in an engaging and insightful narrative that describes a 25 year odyssey of research into one of humanity's oldest forms of healing.

In the second section, the results of that journey are presented in the form of Tao Shiatsu's five element system of study. Of particular interest to anyone wishing to increase health and vitality through strengthening ki power, are the detailed, step-by-step explanations, with extensive use of high quality photos and illustrations, showing renki energy movement exercise forms and ki-breathing meditation.

These train the spiritual heart, imagination and body movement to be synchronised, in order for healing ki to be generated through the Tao Shiatsu treatment methods that follow.

There is also a self-shiatsu section.

Of particular interest to people working and studying in the field is the explanation of the discovery of the Super Vessel meridians and revolutionary expansion of the meridian network that includes ring and spiral meridians. The increasingly chronic and energy deficient (kyo) symptoms of modern illness have necessitated their appearance and use for treatment. Careful explanation is given of how this approach to treatment benefits the well being of both giver and receiver.