George Ohsawa

George Ohsawa, born Yukikazu Sakurazawa (桜沢 如一, Sakurazawa Yukikazu?, October 18, 1893 - April 23, 1966), was the founder of the Macrobiotic diet and philosophy. When living in Europe he went by the pen names of Musagendo Sakurazawa, Nyoiti Sakurazawa, and Yukikazu Sakurazawa. He also used the French first name Georges while living in France, and his name is sometimes also given this spelling. George Ohsawa introduced the oriental concept of health to Westerners in the mid-20th century, writing about 300 books in Japanese and 20 in French during a 40-year period. He himself defined health as comprising seven levels: lack of tiredness or fatigue; good appetite; good sleep; good memory; good humour; precision of thought and action; gratitude (Sandifer, 1998).