Michio Kushi
Japanese educator who brought macrobiotics to the United States.
Michio Kushi (May 17, 1926 – December 28, 2014) was a Japanese educator and advocate for alternative cancer treatments who brought modern macrobiotics to the United States starting in the early 1950s. He traveled internationally to give lectures and seminars on the macrobiotic diet.
After World War II, Kushi studied in Japan under macrobiotic educator George Ohsawa. He moved to America in 1949, and together with his wife Aveline, he founded Erewhon Natural Foods, the East West Journal, the East West Foundation, the Kushi Foundation, One Peaceful World, and the Kushi Institute. The couple authored more than 70 books. Kushi studied law and international relations at the University of Tokyo and later continued his education at Columbia University in New York City. Aveline died in 2001, and their daughter died in 1995. Kushi lived in Brookline, Massachusetts, and died of pancreatic cancer on December 28, 2014, at age 88.
In 1994, he received the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers. In 1999, he was mentioned in the Congressional record for his work educating the public about macrobiotics. That same year, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History opened a permanent collection in his name, the “Michio and Aveline Kushi Macrobiotics Collection,” housed in the Archives Center. Kushi and his first wife were founders of the Kushi Institute, originally located in a converted factory building in Brookline Village, Massachusetts, and later in Becket, Massachusetts, through 2016. On October 14, 2000, they received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award for their contributions to diet, health, and world peace.
Kushi argued that conventional cancer treatments are “violent and artificial” and promoted his macrobiotic diet as a cancer treatment. However, no clinical evidence supports the diet’s effectiveness against cancer. The American Cancer Society requested documentation for his claims, but his response contained no clinical data. Nutritionists Elizabeth Whelan and Frederick J. Stare criticized his assertion that cancer is largely caused by improper diet, thinking, and lifestyle, calling it unfounded. They noted that while Kushi’s books describe cases of remission, no statistics exist on overall patient outcomes, and some patients died soon after following the diet. Additionally, some reported remissions occurred i
- born
- May 17, 1926
- died
- December 28, 2014
- field
- Macrobiotics, alternative cancer treatment
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Introducing modern macrobiotics to the United States; promoting macrobiotic diet for cancer treatment
Lore & Background
After World War II, Kushi studied in Japan with macrobiotic educator George Ohsawa. He moved to America in 1949, where he and his wife Aveline founded Erewhon Natural Foods, the East West Journal, the East West Foundation, the Kushi Foundation, One Peaceful World, and the Kushi Institute. Kushi studied law and international relations at the University of Tokyo and later at Columbia University in New York City. He lived in Brookline, Massachusetts, and died of pancreatic cancer at age 88.
Kushi argued that conventional cancer treatments are 'violent and artificial' and promoted his macrobiotic diet to treat cancer. However, 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, and his reply contained no clinical data. Nutritionists Elizabeth Whelan and Frederick J. Stare criticized his claims, noting that his case histories lacked statistics and that some patients died shortly after following the diet, while others also received conventional treatment.
Reader's Guide
Michio Kushi's significance lies in his role as a key figure in bringing macrobiotics—a dietary and philosophical system—to the United States and popularizing it as an alternative approach to health and cancer treatment. Through his lectures, books, and organizations, he built a movement that attracted followers worldwide. However, his legacy is contested: while his work earned recognition from the United Nations Society of Writers and a mention in the Congressional record, his cancer treatment claims were rejected by mainstream medical and nutritional authorities for lacking clinical evidence. The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History established a permanent collection in his and Aveline's name, reflecting his cultural impact, but the controversy over his unsubstantiated cancer claims remains a central part of his historical record.
Did You Know?
- Kushi received the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers in 1994.
- The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History opened a permanent collection titled 'Michio and Aveline Kushi Macrobiotics Collection' in 1999.
- Kushi and his wife Aveline were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award on October 14, 2000.
- Kushi died of pancreatic cancer on December 28, 2014, at age 88.
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