Manaka Made Simple

GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS 2026 — BRONZE WINNER
Health: Alternative Medicine

Manaka’s system, clearly presented for clinical use.

Dr Yoshio Manaka was one of the most innovative figures in modern Japanese acupuncture, developing a refined clinical system based on the principle of maximum benefit with minimum intervention. Yet despite the profound influence of his work, there have been no new practical books on this highly effective method for over three decades. Manaka Made Simple fills that gap.

Bringing together an international team of experienced Manaka System Acupuncture teachers—Oran Kivity (Taiwan), Stephen Birch (the Netherlands), Marian Fixler (United Kingdom), Brenda Loew (United States), and Paul Movsessian (Australia)—this book presents Manaka’s Four-Step Protocol in a clear, step-by-step format that mirrors the way they teach. Drawing on decades of clinical practice and direct lineage transmission, the authors translate Manaka’s ideas into methods that can be applied confidently in the clinic.

Written in a friendly, conversational tone, the book makes a sophisticated system accessible without oversimplifying it. Designed for experienced practitioners and advanced students alike, it includes:

• A clear presentation of Manaka’s Four-Step Protocol
• Practical guidance grounded in palpation and clinical reasoning
• Eighteen illustrative clinical case studies

The text is supported by over a hundred diagrams, tables, and photos to aid visual learning and practical application in the clinic. Additional essays on the evolution of Japanese acupuncture, palpation, moxa, and theories of dosage place Manaka’s work within a broader clinical and historical context. These chapters make the book more than a technical manual, providing a valuable resource for practitioners interested in Japanese acupuncture as a living, evolving tradition.

Praise for Manaka Made Simple

“This well-organized book will definitely make it easier for those new to the Manaka system to get a proper start ... Just what is needed to breathe new life into Dr Manaka’s work in the West”
—Bob Quinn, North American Journal of Oriental Medicine

“A detailed, clear and highly practical introduction to Dr Manaka’s System… with step-by-step diagnostic and treatment procedures and illustrative case histories.”
—Dr John McDonald, PhD

“If you found Chasing the Dragon’s Tail fascinating but a little overwhelming because of its endless depth, this book provides the best beginner guide to Manaka’s work.”
—Moshe Becker