15/05/2026
CONMEMORATING MICHIO KUSHI 100th BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
May 17, 2026 will be Michio Kushi’s 100th birthday anniversary and I would like to join friends from around the world commemorating his life and expressing my sincere gratitude and appreciation for his lifelong dedication towards realizing health, peace and happiness in the world.
I am one of many fortunate individuals whose life was deeply influenced by Michio Kushi. And I was inspired by his teachings which I continue to benefit, honor and share with others.
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In the late 1990’s I had the precious chance to live with Michio and Aveline Kushi for a period of time. And to learn, cook, share meals and travel together. Remembering him on this especial day I would like to share some of those memories, photos that I took and reflections based on his teachings many of which were imparted at the Kushi Institute in Becket, Massachusetts in the United States during those days.
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We are responsible for our own health
There is no need to blame others nor complain about external influences regarding our health. The macrobiotic way embraces both health and sickness and its a matter of choice. And the best way to regain health is through self-reflection and making changes in the way we think, eat and live.
We often hear stories of those who have regained their health and those who have gotten sick through seemingly the same macrobiotic practice. But when it comes to practice, I don’t see anyone who really practices well macrobiotics today, including myself. Who pays careful attention to every food we put into our mouth? Who cooks well all the time? And who follows a balanced way of life on a daily basis? Obviously, we cannot blame macrobiotics when we get sick but our own lack of understanding and practice. And there is no such thing as ‘a macrobiotic person’ since we are all in the process of learning how to practice macrobiotics and manage our own health.
Michio Kushi always encouraged us to do more effort taking care of ourselves. And to commemorate his life work I would like to invite everyone to do some self-reflection about your own present state of health and pick a food, cooking style or a lifestyle practice that could improve it. I am sure that if we all use this opportunity to improve our own health Michio Kushi will be very happy and we could all best honor him.
Michio Kushi’s teachings
Michio Kushi left behind many books, writings and other educational material which is available to anyone interested in his teachings. For those of us who have many of his books but have not read them in a long time, now is a good time to reread them in a new light and revive his teachings. And for those who have studied macrobiotics but have not yet read his books, I suggest that you buy one and read it. If we do this, I am sure that we are all going to learn something of value and implement it in our lives. And assume that he will also be happy to see that his efforts have gone to good use.
Michio Kushi’s teachings are also spread throughout the universe in the form of consciousness, images and thoughts. And can be accessed anytime by anyone through our intuitive understanding and inspiration. But in order to do this we need to maintain a healthy condition. This is actually why Michio Kushi always reminded us to eat well and maintain a good clean condition so that our intuition works well, be sharp and connect with the universe.
Michio Kushi’s Legacy
Any person who has come across Michio Kushi’s teachings and benefitted in one way or another become part of his legacy. And I am sure that many of you reading this message have much to be grateful to his life and his teachings. Therefore, we are all now part of his legacy.
In order for his legacy to remain alive, spread and be shared with others, I would like you to think of something that you learned by coming in contact with macrobiotics that improved your life. It could be something that opened your mind and led to a new insight or view of life. Or incorporating certain food and making some dietary changes that contributed to better health. Once you decide on something that you cherish, I would like you to share it with someone. It could be anyone and transmitted in any way you like. Michio Kushi was a very practical person and this is the way he would like us to share his legacy. By helping others and nourishing their lives and dream. This he called love. And macrobiotics is not just about health whether personal or planetary but also about developing our love, caring for others and by sharing the things that are significant for us.
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One Peaceful World
I took the above photo of Michio Kushi in 1998. It was at an International Macrobiotic Conference held in Wakayama Prefecture close to where Michio Kushi was born. On that occasion we also joined Lima Ohsawa’s 100th birthday celebration gathering in Tokyo.
One of the main themes of the conference revolved around his vision of One Peaceful World. Michio Kushi shared with us then that if humanity continues to create division among each other, fight and engage in war using atomic weapons it would lead to untold suffering and destruction around the world. So, the only way forward for us is unity and peace.
He mentioned that currently there are no organization that could represent humanity as a whole. Countries only represent groups of people and United Nations only represent groups of countries. But no one is representing the human family as one. And some form of organization or world government representing all of humanity and dedicated to the true wellbeing of all people and shared destiny on this planet will eventually be needed to create in the future. At the time I took this photo Michio Kushi was reading to us for the first time a blueprint for a world constitution representing all of humanity that he wrote together with his collaborates.
Michio Kushi’s lifelong dedication to peace was awakened after experiencing himself the suffering and destruction caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And this event has much meaning today at a time of rising tension among nations, ongoing ravaging conflict and a growing concern about world war and the use of atomic weapons. And whether this situation leads to total confrontation or not rely on everyone today. Because we are not only responsible for our own lives and health or our families but also whatever happens in the world while alive on this planet. This is the meaning of Michio Kushi’s teachings when he said that we are all brothers and sisters of one human family living together and sharing this wonderful planet.
To celebrate Michio Kushi’s 100th birthday anniversary in addition to a prayer expressing our gratitude towards him, his life and teachings, I would like to ask everyone to do something in your life that can lead to a more peaceful world. In this way we can all awaken our shared dream of One Peaceful World and contribute together to a bright future for humanity.
In gratitude to Michio Kushi, his life, teachings and endless dream
Patricio Garcia de Paredes
