For over 15 years now. Okinawa's Real American chiropractic center. (thirteen years at our present location)
Okinawa Chiropractic Center was founded in 2005 in Chatan. We started out in a little two-room apartment on Kokutai Rd. Fortunately, the local community supported real, American chiropractic. And, we were able to make the plunge into the expensive world of Japanese business ownership.
On April 9, 2007, we opened our clinic in the Dai Ichi Touwa building in Chatan. We have served the local English-speaking community continuously since that day. We have made sure that chiropractic is continuously available to those who understand it, and who utilize chiropractic as a part of their wellness lifestyle.
Additionally, we have offered extended wellness services as desired and available.
Currently, in addition to chiropractic, we offer an on-call acupuncturist service, custom orthotic footwear and inserts (by Foot Leveler (USA)) as well as essential oil therapies and education via a licensed Japanese provider.
We seek to not only make sure that real chiropractic is always available on Okinawa. But, to raise the standards and professionalism of chiropractic throughout Japan. Chiropractic is still in its infancy in Japan. It is not formally recognized by the Ministry of Health. And, currently, schools which call themselves ‘chiropractic’ schools offer very little in the way of actual chiropractic technique education.
We have supported several initiatives to establish an internationally-recognized chiropractic curriculum, based on accepted standards. And, while it is a tough fight; we persist. And, we have taken our financial and political lumps in the process. but, we will continue to persevere.
As a business owner and professional in Japan, it is also very difficult to accomplish the above goals when fly-by-night ‘SOFA status’ operators arrive on island and set up shop in their tax-payer supported homes. These unethical parasites are the worst challenge that chiropractic endures in this community. And, their cut-rate services while illegal and unlawful on Japanese soil, are attractive to others who have no concern for such matters, the local community, those of us who live and support our families here, nor the local economy’s fragile economic well-being to which they are doing real harm.
These practitioners may be licensed in the States. But, they are not legally permitted to operate a patient-based business under Japanese law. Yet, these temporary practitioners come to Okinawa, use their SOFA status as as both a shield and a bludgeon, undercut local businesses (who do not enjoy the privilege of having the US government pay for their rent and utilities) all the while, doing significant damage to both the local businesses and the chiropractic profession’s legitimate development in Japan.
When these unethical practitioners leave Japan, as they inevitably must, they leave behind a further-depressed economic situation and a professional vacuum which cannot be easily filled. Practitioners who simply can not compete with a ‘business’ whose overhead is paid by the U.S. government, leave the area for places where they can compete on a fair-and-level playing field. At this time, Okinawa is NOT on a fair-and-level playing field when it comes to chiropractic.
This damage has been regular and cyclical over my twenty years in-country. And, every time we manage to recover somewhat, it starts again with another self-important SOFA status chiropractor, who tags along with their military spouse and, could truly care less about local law, the members of the local business community and, lawful businesses to which they do significant harm.
It is the height of arrogance and selfishness to enter, unlawfully into a market and undercut the usual-and-customary rates with your government-paid rent and utility expenses - when local business are forced pay exorbitant local rates for office space and utilities, on our own... Expenses which, we must cover in the rates that are charged... or turn ourselves into unethical patient-mills which rely on heavy volume and poor results to pad the income.
Currently, there are a few of these uncaring, unethical practitioners working on Okinawa - doing significant damage to local business as well as the profession’s fragile development in Okinawa and in Japan. And, since they are prohibited from practicing onboard military installations, they set up off-base, using their so-called ‘superior credentials’ and SOFA status as both a shield for themselves, and a blunt object used against local practitioners who have real businesses... and real expenses and, are legally-established in this country.
This is neither ethical, moral nor lawful. And, Okinawa Chiropractic, in partnership with other local practitioners and prefectural legal offices is making it our mission to see these unethical practitioners prosecuted to the full extent of Japanese law. And, while the wheels of justice grind slowly, they DO grind a fine powder.
We also seek to make a permanent rule that licensed, patient-based businesses be prohibited from operating on Japanese soil. Unless such businesses are authorized by BOTH U.S. military AND local authority, are located on-base, and have direct permission and regulatory oversight from command; they should not be allowed to operate without the slightest amount of oversight and drain resources away from what is already a fragile economic situation.
Chiropractic, at this time, is a totally unregulated profession in Japan. There are still no standard curriculae, no professional board exams, and no mandatory national proficiency exams to be passed. THIS is the battle we fight for chiropractic in Japan.
And, this battle cannot be successfully fought with the constant unethical distraction of unfair, (defacto) government-subsidized practitioners who do irreparable damage to the profession in Japan, and make it increasingly difficult to ensure that chiropractic will even EXIST on this island after these fly-by-night operators have taken their money and ran.
When an American chiropractor graduates, they still have to pass national and state proficiency exams in order to practice. We are working to establish such standards in Japan. the fight has been long and hard - with admittedly, little actual progress due to political bickering.
We need practitioners from other nations, especially the US Military, to show some DECENCY and RESPECT for our struggle to ligitimize chiropractic in Japan and, to stop hamstringing legally-engaged local practitioners and businesses who are attempting to develop a future for chiropractic in Japan, and support ourselves and our families while doing so. We are not just in it for the quick money before moving on to another exciting station. WE LIVE AND WORK HERE.
Thank You! both for reading, and for your understanding.
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More information on Japanese Chiropractic (Updated as situation changes)
Your local (Japanese) chiropractor is a different situation from western chiropractic doctors. When they graduate from a TWO-year vocational seitai school, they get a nice looking certificate to show off to clients... That's about all it's worth. One school even prints “D.C.” after the graduate’s name (Japan also has no regulatory laws about co-opting western degree titles such as Doctor of ...)
Most chiropractic technique in this system, is learned from Seminars and videos recorded by the handful of Japanese DCs that do exist.
When you visit a "local" chiropractic center... ASK about their qualifications first instead of just comparing prices. You DO get what you pay for.
Dr. Holliday, A graduate of an accredited US College of Chiropractic, has met ALL national and state standards (Florida) for the practice of chiropractic. And, for over 25 years now, he has done just THAT... practiced SAFE and EFFECTIVE, STRAIGHT chiropractic - BOTH in the US and Japan.
Don't be deceived by the unqualified fakes, frauds, and the illegal, apartment-based practitioners so common around these parts. Some may have a massage license or even an acupuncture license. But, DOES that qualify them to manipulate YOUR spine? A few SOFA members who may, or may not possess credentials also practice unlawfully on Okinawan soil.
So, I ask this question to those unethical practitioners... If you are NOT permitted to set up a real practice on-base - What makes you think it is acceptable to practice in your government-paid home, off-base and,on Japanese soil?
The short answer is... You are wrong. You must be legally qualified to operate a business on Japanese soil. SOFA status members may NOT own and operate businesses on Japanese soil.
If you ARE qualified to operate a business in Japan, you must pay Japanese taxes. A quick look at public tax records has revealed that; None of the known (SOFA) practitioners have filed Japanese tax returns for the years they have operated on Japanese soil... Oops! Prepare for the hammer. It’s coming.
To resume our previous discourse....
An increasing number of cheap and unqualified alternatives have cropped up in Japan - And, more recently on Okinawa, we are seeing "Chiropractic" clinics opening up with cut-rate prices and questionable technique. And, they ALWAYS schedule return visits... even when it should be totally unnecessary.
When a practitioner says that you must return for multiple visits, ask them why? And, make sure you are completely satisfied with their explanation. Because ‘Practice Building’ in chiropractic business seminars is COMPLETELY dependent upon guaranteeing return visits, forcing clients to sign “Wellness Contracts”, and even ‘selling’ prepaid ‘Care-Plans’ at a small discount. (We DO offer pckage plans online. but, their usage is ENTIRELY optional)
When you visit an ethical chiropractor, ask them... “Do you believe in the creed; Find it, Fix it, Leave it alone?” If they do, then they should not be pushing more than one or two repeat visits for the same issue. And, even then, only in limited situations where it actually IS important to follow up on adjustments.
If you are told, “I need to see you X times a week for Y weeks”... Leave! (Maybe ask them where they got their Crystal Ball) And, never look back. They are following a business plan called ‘Practice Building’, and they are simply milking your wallet for whatever they can.
Locally, I have seen MANY people who have either received NO improvement or actually been made WORSE by the so-called treatments at many locally-operated locations. And, this is usually after several hundreds of dollars have been wasted in the attempt. STRAIGHT chiropractic also means ETHICAL practice of chiropractic. This means that, at OCC, you will never be confronted by some high-pressure sales technique to sign a ‘Wellness Contract’ or commit to an extended period of repeat visits for the same issue. And, while every situation is different, I have NEVER seen a chiropractic issue that required two visits per week for six weeks... Or some similar line of malarkey.
And, I am tired of seeing these things happen again and again. So, no more Mr. Nice Guy.
You get what you pay for. At Okinawa Chiropractic Center you are paying for a DOCTOR of Chiropractic who knows what the heck is going on with your low back, neck, head, or other pains. And, a doctor who practices by the motto "Find it, Fix it, Leave it alone".
That's right! You will NEVER be asked to return for unnecessary follow-ups. And, if you ARE asked to return, you will receive a DARNED good explanation as to why it is necessary. And, if I cannot resolve the issue, I will be completely up-front about adjunctive options needed to get you there.
Most of these unethical "hacks" massage you for a while, they may stretch you in different directions, rub you down afterward, use some ‘strange and mystical’ tools on your body, and most rare is the one that actually attempts spinal manipulation... At best, they fail. At worst they injure their client. But, they will ALWAYS put the onus back on YOU. You will return time and time again... until you give up on them and seek a REAL chiropractor. By that time, you are already in the hole a couple or three hundred bucks... FAR more than most clients with common complaints spend with us for the same problems.
So, when you consider a chiropractor on Okinawa - Consider what is the most qualified, ethical, safe and economical option.
OCC depends ENTIRELY upon the local American military community for its survival. Please consider us your first choice for REAL chiropractic on Okinawa.
We are located on Kokutai Road (Route 23) in Chatan - Right across from the Capital Steak House and next door to Wing King and Delta Airline's ticketing office. (Been here for almost 13 years)
Click the "Book Now" link on our FB page to manage your appointments online.
Please message us with your questions or concerns.
