When I was studying, during vocational school and later in a general hospital where the son of SHIROTA BUNSHI (Shirota Fumihiko) had set up a "Research Institute for Oriental Medicine", I read the books of late Shirota Bunshi sensei. At that time MOST people in the field knew him and his books, which most definitely had a major influence on the development of postwar acupuncture in Japan. And they are about the ONLY source of information pertaining to master Bunshi's own master: SAWADA KEN sensei.
Even after extensive search I did not find, however, any English (or other languages, with the exception of a pirated Chinese book) translation. I was once even asked by an American person running an acupuncture clinic in the States visiting me in my clinic, to find some spare time to translate Shirota sensei's book(s) into English, since he really wanted to know, what the original text said and not only read reports ABOUT those books.
Feeling very honored by that suggestion, I proposed to start with "鍼灸真髄" (Essentials of Acupuncture).
However … I did ask the publisher of the Japanese version several times and even proposed to translate the book and publish it for free as an ebook, but was denied the right to do so because of "copyright reasons". And that even though the wife of late Shirota Fumihiko sensei asked his "deciples" (of which I seem to be a member) to spread the knowledge of this outstanding master.
Since said copyright will be in place for another 18 years, I do not think, I will ever be able to translate that book in my remaining lifetime.
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