Macrobiotics

Macrobiotics is a way of eating centered around mostly plant-based, locally sourced whole foods, along with lifestyle practices to promote health and well being. It first became popular in the United States in the 1960's. As a way of eating, it consists of a whole foods, mostly plant-based diet, ideally locally grown and seasonal; and relative to a standard American diet, this way of eating can offer some advantages in terms of health maintenance.

Macrobiotics is also a philosophy and a social movement that trains people in how to diagnose and care for themselves using macrobiotic principles. In 2020, it consists of various training centers working in a loose coalition, with teachers in several countries, including the U.S., England, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Founder: George Ohsawa (1893-1966)

George Ohsawa (1893-1966), born Nyoichi Sakurazawa in Japan, was the founder of the macrobiotics. He was an effusive, prolific author who wrote about 300 books in Japanese and, while living in France after WWII, about twenty books in French (using pen names Musagendo, Nyoiti or Yukikazu Sakurazawa).

Second generation teachers

Many of the macrobiotic teachers and counselors now active in the United States trained originally under either Herman Aihara (1920-1998) and his wife Cornelia if on the west coast, or Michio Kushi (1926-2014) his wife Aveline if on the east coast.

Third generation teachers and counselors

As of 2021, contemporary senior counselors in the United States are older and originally trained at a time when macrobiotics became suddenly of more widespread interest during the upheaval of the 1960's. The following list is not complete, but contains important examples.

• Simon Brown - Portugal, author and educator

• Bob Ligon - acupuncturist, herbalist, author, life-style counselor, life coach, practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Annemarie Colbin - whole foods chef and author

• Edward Esko - macrobiotic educator

• Wendy Esko - macrobiotic chef, author, now employed by Eden Foods

• Carl Ferre

• Alex Jack - co-author of The One Peaceful World Cookbook: Over 150 Vegan, Macrobiotic Recipes for Vibrant Health and Happiness (2017

• Sachi Kato - co-author of The One Peaceful World Cookbook: Over 150 Vegan, Macrobiotic Recipes for Vibrant Health and Happiness (2017

• Warren Kramer - macrobiotic health counselor

• Christina Pirello - whole food chef

• Patrick Riley - macrobiotic health counselor

• Michael Rossoff - acupuncturist and health educator

• William Speer - macrobiotic health counselor

• Bill Tara - macrobiotic educator

• Jamie Trevena - macrobiotic health coach

• Denny Waxman - macrobiotic health counselor

• Melanie Brown Waxman - Portugal

Fourth generation teachers

• Gina Compella

Training institutes

• George Ohsawa Macrobiotics Foundation, aka GOMF (California) - active

• Kushi Institute (Boston, MA) - established 1978, now defunct

• Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts - culinary arts school founded by Annebarie Colbin, Ph. D. in 1977, absorbed by Culinary Institute of America in (2018?)

• Strengthening Health Institute (Philadelphia, PA) - active

Food Markets, Suppliers and distributions companies

• Eden Foods - Clinton, MI, organic and macrobiotic food packager and distributor

• Essene (Philadelphia, PA)

• Erewhon (Boston, MA)

Food growers, harvesters, and preparers

• Seaweed from Maine
• Blue Moon Acres
• The Bridge (maker of tofu, seitan, amazake)