Acupuncture is increasingly used in Europe to treat children’s health problems, and Toyohari practitioners are well trained to do so gently and safely.

Since children are often afraid of needles, Toyohari adapts well — most of its techniques already rely on non-inserted needling methods, and practitioners are trained in the teishin, a round-ended tool lightly touched to points without discomfort.

This connects to a specialised Japanese tradition dating back almost 300 years called Shonishin (Children’s Needle Therapy), which uses rounded tools gently stroked or tapped on the body in set patterns — distinct from the herbal medicine or massage approaches more common in Chinese and Korean traditions. Many Toyohari practitioners also train in Shonishin, combining both methods to treat a wide range of children’s health conditions.