I was taught the basics of katsugen when I was a child in Japan suffering from the effects of a brain tumor which was surgically removed. The tumor and the surgery took a toll on my health which were both physical and emotional. Fortunately, immediately after I recovered from the operation, my mother took me to Haruchika Noguchi-san’s healing center to be treated.
During the treatments there, I was taught katsugen oondo. I did not understand at the time its purpose, I was just told to do it for my health. I must admit I was not diligent nor regular in its practice, but I did experiment with it occassionally.
It was in my twenties that I began to practice katsugen in earnest. Because I had many left-over effects from my tumor and surgery and was struggling with life, I was physically weak, mentally lazy and spiritually indolent. Then I realized that whenever I practiced katsugen regularly, I felt better, had more energy and was in better overall condition.
With that realization, I began to practice katsugen more diligently and also began to study other methods of self betterment. Subsequently, I have delved into Transcendental Meditation, Nichiren Buddhism, Feldenkrais, creative visualization, Science of Mind, Christianity, Taoism, Feng Shui, the Urantia Book and more. Physically, my katsugen practice has changed the weak, uncoordinated lad which I once was into a healthy and athletic individual who still swims, surfs, and works out at the gym at the age of 73. My mind is active also in that I write screenplays, novels, songs, and play the harmonica. I am also an award-winning artist and photographer. Spiritually, I contact the divinity within by connecting regularly to the Source. I also engage in service projects for the betterment of the world.
All in all, katsugen has been a vital catalyst for coordinating the diverse aspects of my unique life.