If osteopathy is new to you
Osteopathy is taught and practiced differently around the world. Before you read about what we do, it may help to know where osteopathy stands in different countries.
Osteopathy around the world
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Regulated health profession. Osteopaths must register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and complete a university degree (BSc or MSc). |
| France, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland | Recognised profession with formal training standards. |
| United States | Osteopaths are fully licensed physicians (DO — Doctor of Osteopathy). They can prescribe medicine and perform surgery. This is different from osteopathy in other countries. |
| Japan | Not a regulated profession. Anyone can use the word “osteopathy.” The quality of training varies widely. This is why OQ publishes the full training record of both practitioners. |
| Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia | Osteopathy is less common. Many patients meet osteopathy for the first time when abroad. |
Where does OQ fit?
Both practitioners at OQ train in the United Kingdom tradition.
- Director Yusuke Sakata holds a BSc(Ost) from Swansea University, Wales, with postgraduate training at EVOST (Belgium) and M.I.C.O. (Member of the Institute of Classical Osteopathy).
- Associate Director Sota Omura, already a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) with an MSc in Health Science, is currently enrolled in the BSc(Ost) programme at Swansea University — the same UK-regulated training as the Director.
By the time both complete their training, OQ will be the only clinic in Japan with two BSc(Ost)-qualified osteopaths on staff.
This means:
- Training is medically grounded — anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical diagnosis
- Treatment is hands-on and non-forceful
- Sessions are longer than typical medical appointments (40-60 minutes)
- The focus is the whole person, not only the symptom
Why this matters if you are visiting or living in Japan
In Japan, “osteopathy” (オステオパシー) is sometimes used interchangeably with “seitai” (整体), “chiropractic” (カイロプラクティック), or “massage.” These are all different things. OQ is osteopathy in the UK sense. If you have been to an osteopath in London, Paris, Sydney, or Auckland, you will recognise the approach.
If you have never been to one before, the rest of this page explains what osteopathy is and how it may help you.
Osteopathy is practised differently in Japan than in many Western countries. This page explains what it is — and what OQ’s approach specifically involves. → First visit information
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy founded in the United States in the 1870s by Andrew Taylor Still, a physician who became disillusioned with the medicine of his era. Still’s central observation was that the body has an inherent capacity to heal itself — and that this capacity depends on the integrity of its structure, circulation, and nervous system.
From that foundation, osteopathy developed a way of assessing and treating the whole body: not just the site of pain, but the wider patterns of tension, restriction, and compensation that shape how the body functions. An osteopath doesn’t ask only “where does it hurt?” — they ask “what is this body doing, and why?”
How is it different from massage or chiropractic?
| Massage | Chiropractic | Osteopathy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Muscle relaxation, circulation | Spinal alignment, joint adjustment | Whole-body structure, function, and self-regulation |
| Techniques | Soft tissue, pressure | High-velocity manipulation (cracking) | Soft tissue, articulation, cranial, visceral — varies by patient |
| Approach | Symptom relief | Alignment correction | Why is this pattern here? What does the whole body need? |
| At OQ | — | — | Gentle, no cracking, responsive to what we find |
Osteopathy is not the same as what is commonly called “seitai” (整体) in Japan. Seitai is a broad category that includes many different approaches with varying levels of training. Qualified osteopaths in the UK, Australia, and parts of Europe hold university-level degrees (typically 4–5 years). Yusuke Sakata at OQ holds a BSc in Osteopathy from a UK programme.
What does a session at OQ actually involve?
Listening first
Every session starts with a conversation. We want to understand not just the symptom, but the whole picture — history, lifestyle, what you’ve already tried, what’s changed. For new patients, this can take 30 minutes or more. It’s not a formality. What you tell us shapes everything that follows.
A whole-body assessment
We look at posture, movement, and the relationship between different parts of the body. Where is load concentrated? What is restricted? What has been compensating for what, and for how long? This assessment is often as informative as the treatment itself.
Treatment
OQ uses a range of osteopathic techniques. The work is gentle — we don’t use high-velocity manipulation or cracking. Techniques include soft tissue work, gentle articulation of joints, cranial osteopathy, and visceral osteopathy (working with the mobility of internal organs). The approach is adapted entirely to the individual: what works for one person may be completely different for another.
What you might feel during and after
During treatment, people often feel a deep sense of settling — warmth, heaviness, a shift in tension. Some people feel tired afterwards. Some feel lighter. Some feel a temporary increase in symptoms before things improve. All of these can be normal responses. We’ll talk you through what to expect.
What can osteopathy help with?
At OQ, we work with a wide range of presentations. Some of the most common:
- Musculoskeletal pain — back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee
- Headaches and migraines
- Women’s hormonal and reproductive health (PCOS, thyroid, endometriosis, fertility support)
- Pregnancy and postnatal recovery
- Paediatrics — newborns, feeding difficulties, colic, developmental concerns
- Autoimmune and systemic conditions (alongside medical care)
- Stroke rehabilitation (Sota Omura, 2nd floor)
- Chronic fatigue and systemic low energy
- Digestive concerns
Osteopathy is not a cure for everything, and we’ll tell you honestly if we think a different approach would serve you better. We work alongside — not instead of — medical care.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is osteopathy regulated in Japan?
Osteopathy is not a nationally regulated profession in Japan in the same way as it is in the UK, Australia, or France. This means the title “osteopath” is not legally protected, and standards vary significantly. At OQ, Yusuke Sakata holds a BSc in Osteopathy from a UK university programme — a qualification that requires 4–5 years of full-time study including clinical training.
Q. How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what you’re dealing with and how your body responds. For acute issues, sometimes 1–3 sessions is enough. For chronic or systemic conditions, a longer process is more realistic — and we’ll be transparent about that from the start. We don’t keep people coming indefinitely without a clear reason.
Q. Do I need a referral from a doctor?
No referral needed. You can book directly. If you’re currently under medical care for a specific condition, please continue that care and let us know at your first visit.
Ready to try it?
Book online in English. No Japanese required. First session includes a full history and whole-body assessment.
Hours: 9:00–22:30 (last booking 21:30) / By appointment only / TEL: 075-822-3003
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