Photo: KushiInstitute — CC BY 2.0Source
Michio Kushi
writer
- May 17, 1926 · Kokawa
- December 28, 2014 · Boston
- 88 years
- pancreatic cancer
About Michio Kushi
Michio Kushi, 88, Japanese-born American scholar, pancreatic cancer.
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Full Biography
|Michio Kushi (久司 道夫, Kushi Michio) (May 17, 1926 – December 28, 2014) was a Japanese educator and alternative cancer treatment advocate who helped to introduce modern macrobiotics to the United States in the early 1950s. He lectured all over the world at conferences and seminars about the macrobiotic diet.
Background
After World War II, Kushi studied in Japan with macrobiotic educator George Ohsawa. After going to America in 1949, Michio Kushi and Aveline Kushi, his wife, founded Erewhon Natural Foods, the East West Journal, the East West Foundation, the Kushi Foundation, One Peaceful World, and the Kushi Institute. They wrote over 70 books.
Kushi studied law and international relations at the University of Tokyo, and after going to America, he continued his studies at Columbia University in New York City. Aveline preceded him in death (2001), as did their daughter (1995). Michio Kushi lived in Brookline, Massachusetts. He died of pancreatic cancer on December 28, 2014, at the age of 88.
Achievements
- 1994 Kushi received the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers.
- 1999 Mentioned in the Congressional record in recognition of the dedication and hard work to educate the world about the benefits of a macrobiotic diet.
- 1999 The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History opened a permanent collection on macrobiotics and alternative health care in his name. The title of the collection is the "Michio and Aveline Kushi Macrobiotics Collection". It is located in the Archives Center.[citation needed]
Michio and his first wife Aveline were founders of The Kushi Institute, located in Becket, Massachusetts through 2016, but formerly in a converted factory building in Brookline Village, Massachusetts, adjacent to Mission Hill, Boston.
He and his first wife were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award for their "extraordinary contribution to diet, health, and world peace, and for serving as powerful examples of conscious living", on October 14, 2000.
Cancer
Kushi argued that conventional cancer treatments are "violent and artificial" and promoted his macrobiotic diet to treat cancer. There is no clinical evidence that the macrobiotic diet is effective to treat cancer. The American Cancer Society asked Kushi for documentation of his cancer claims. The reply contained no clinical data.
Two American nutritionists who have criticized Kushi's claim that a macrobiotic diet can cure cancer, Elizabeth Whelan and Frederick J. Stare , noted that:
Kushi's claim that cancer is largely due to his own versions of improper diet, thinking, and lifestyle is entirely without foundation. In his books, Kushi has recounted numerous case histories of persons whose cancer allegedly disappeared after following a macrobiotic diet. There are no available statistics on the outcome for all of these patients, but it is documented that at least some of them succumbed to their disease within a relatively short period. Reported testimonials of remission often uncovered the fact that the patients were also receiving conventional medical treatment at the same time.
Selected publications
- 1976: Introduction to Oriental Diagnosis. Red Moon Publications. ISBN 9780906111000
- 1977: The Book of Macrobiotics. Japan Publications ISBN 9780870403811
- 1979: The Book of Do-In. Japan publications. ISBN 9780870403828
- 1979: Natural Healing Through Macrobiotics. Japan Publications; (December 1979) ISBN 9780870404573
- 1980: How to See Your Health: Book of Oriental Diagnosis. Japan Publications (USA) (December 1980) ISBN 9780870404672
- 1982: Cancer and Heart Disease: The Macrobiotic Approach to Degenerative Disorders. Japan publications. ISBN 9780870405150
- 1983: Your Face Never Lies. Wayne; (May 1, 1983) ISBN 9780895292148
- 1983: Macrobiotic Pregnancy and Care of the Newborn. Japan publications. ISBN 9780870405310
- 1983: The Cancer Prevention Diet. St Martin's Press. ISBN 9780722515402
- 1985: Macrobiotic Diet. Japan publications. ISBN 9780870405358
- 1985: Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia: A Natural Approach. Japan publications. ISBN 9780870406157
- 1986: Macrobiotic Child Care and Family Health. Japan publications. 1986. ISBN 9780870406126
- 1986: On the Greater View: Collected Thoughts and Ideas on Macrobiotics and Humanity. Wayne NJ. ISBN 9780895292698
- 1990: AIDS, Macrobiotics and Natural Immunity. Japan Publications. ISBN 978-0870406805
- 1990: The Gentle Art of Making Love. Avery Pub Group (May 1990) ISBN 9780895294357
- 1991: The Macrobiotic Approach to Cancer. Garden City Park. ISBN 9780895294869
- 1991: Macrobiotics and Oriental Medicine. Japan publications ISBN 9780870406591
- 1992: The Gospel of Peace : Jesus's Teachings of Eternal Truth. Japan publications. ISBN 9780870407970
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
16 Verified Trivia Questions About Michio Kushi
Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Michio Kushi's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.
1.On what date was Michio Kushi born?
- A.January 1, 1949
- B.May 17, 1926Correct
- C.December 28, 2014
- D.October 14, 2000
Michio Kushi was born on May 17, 1926.
Source: biography header
2.Which university did Michio Kushi attend in Japan?
- A.Kyoto University
- B.University of TokyoCorrect
- C.Harvard University
- D.Columbia University
Michio Kushi studied law and international relations at the University of Tokyo.
Source: background section
3.What was the cause of death of Michio Kushi?
- A.Pancreatic cancerCorrect
- B.Pneumonia
- C.Heart disease
- D.Stroke
Michio Kushi passed away from pancreatic cancer.
Source: background section
4.In which city did Michio Kushi reside at the time of his death?
- A.New York City
- B.Becket
- C.BrooklineCorrect
- D.Boston
Michio Kushi lived in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Source: background section
5.Who was Michio Kushi's mentor in macrobiotics in Japan?
- A.George OhsawaCorrect
- B.Elizabeth Whelan
- C.Frederick J. Stare
- D.Aveline Kushi
After World War II, Michio Kushi studied in Japan with macrobiotic educator George Ohsawa.
Source: background section
6.Which institution opened a permanent collection regarding macrobiotics in Michio Kushi's name in 1999?
- A.The Peace Abbey
- B.The Kushi Institute
- C.The United Nations
- D.The Smithsonian InstitutionCorrect
The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History opened a collection titled the Michio and Aveline Kushi Macrobiotics Collection.
Source: achievements section
7.What award did Michio Kushi and Aveline Kushi receive on October 14, 2000?
- A.Nobel Peace Prize
- B.Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience AwardCorrect
- C.Congressional Medal of Honor
- D.Award of Excellence
Michio Kushi and his wife were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in 2000.
Source: achievements section
8.Which organization asked Michio Kushi to provide clinical data to support his cancer treatment claims?
- A.The American Cancer SocietyCorrect
- B.The Smithsonian Institution
- C.The Peace Abbey
- D.The United Nations
The American Cancer Society requested documentation from Michio Kushi regarding his cancer claims.
Source: cancer section
9.Approximately how many books did Michio Kushi and Aveline Kushi write together?
- A.Over 30
- B.Over 100
- C.Over 50
- D.Over 70Correct
Michio Kushi and Aveline Kushi wrote over 70 books.
Source: background section
10.In what year did Aveline Kushi pass away?
- A.1995
- B.2001Correct
- C.2014
- D.1999
Aveline Kushi preceded Michio Kushi in death in 2001.
Source: background section
11.What is the title of the book published by Michio Kushi in 1976?
- A.The Book of Macrobiotics
- B.The Cancer Prevention Diet
- C.Introduction to Oriental DiagnosisCorrect
- D.Your Face Never Lies
Michio Kushi published Introduction to Oriental Diagnosis in 1976.
Source: selected publications section
12.Where was The Kushi Institute formerly located before moving to Becket, Massachusetts?
- A.The University of Tokyo campus
- B.A building in Manhattan
- C.A converted factory in Brookline VillageCorrect
- D.A site in downtown Boston
The Kushi Institute was formerly in a converted factory building in Brookline Village, Massachusetts.
Source: achievements section
13.Which of these individuals criticized Michio Kushi's claim that a macrobiotic diet could cure cancer?
- A.George Ohsawa
- B.The President of the United States
- C.Elizabeth WhelanCorrect
- D.Aveline Kushi
Elizabeth Whelan was one of the nutritionists who criticized Michio Kushi's cancer cure claims.
Source: cancer section
14.In what year did Michio Kushi receive the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers?
- A.1999
- B.1990
- C.1994Correct
- D.2000
Michio Kushi received the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers in 1994.
Source: achievements section
15.What is the primary topic that Michio Kushi lectured on globally?
- A.International law
- B.Modern medicine
- C.The macrobiotic dietCorrect
- D.Factory management
Michio Kushi lectured worldwide about the macrobiotic diet.
Source: biography header
16.What year did Michio Kushi move to America?
- A.1945
- B.1949Correct
- C.1955
- D.1950
Michio Kushi moved to America in 1949.
Source: background section
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michio_Kushi
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
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