Akari Yokokawa, R.TCMP, R.Ac, RMT

Since I was little, I knew I wanted to do something to help others.

At the age of 18, I made my first official step into healthcare and entered a nursing program. It was a sincere, genuine, and natural decision for me. Since then, I have studied and worked in many fields in western medicine, and now continue learning Chinese Medicine. Simply put, I have studied modern and ancient medicines to deliver the best possible care to my patients for over two decades.

Nursing is definitely a foundation of my work. I learned a great deal about the human body and western treatments and I have witnessed many, many life stories. Putting the physical, emotional, and social factors of the patient in the whole picture was what I was trained to understand for my patients - it’s my backbone. It has taught me patient-centeredness. 

In the first year of my nursing career at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Japan, I met a very sweet elderly couple and I was assigned to be the wife’s primary care nurse. One day, my patient and her husband handed me very cute handmade charms as a thank-you. Sadly, the patient passed soon after a very difficult surgery, and her husband took his own life to follow her. I was also his primary care nurse for his last days when he was taken to the hospital, but his strong will took him to where his beloved wife was. It was the most painful, devastating experience in my entire career to this day. The charms they gave me are still with me here in Canada, and I still think of them every day. They are the reason I stay in healthcare.

Clinical Engineering (CE) has lightened the passion and joy I have for learning. The school years were full of fun and I learned professionalism and how my own behaviour can change relationships from one of the most stubborn patients I cared for at a hemodialysis unit as an RN and a CE student in Japan. As a new acquaintance of his, I was rejected by him numerous times when I attended for his care, but I kept greeting him and being humorous to ease his tension while doing my part. After a few months, we became like best friends and developed a new routine of greeting each other with a “high five!”. It was a daily highlight to see a big smile on his face as he entered the dialysis unit, and we had a lot of fun during his regular dialysis visits along with other patients. I miss everyone I met there.

Massage therapy has deepened the care I feel for patients. Every patient is unique, and every day is a learning experience. I have learned to listen to my patients’ bodies because their bodies knows the answer.

Chinese Medicine has opened new doors for me to see the whole person from a very different angle. This has been filling the gaps that western medicine hasn’t been able to fill. I now truly trust the healing ability we have within ourselves. We are all unique, and valuing and appreciating the uniqueness is the key for the optimal wellness of a particular person. No more cookie cutter treatments. No more covering up the symptoms. In this medicine, I am an attentive detective. I listen, observe, feel, and analyze all the information I gather from the patient to understand what is exactly happening to this person in front of me, right at this moment. And, ta-dah!, it happens. It gives me chills!

In the meantime, I have gone through some ups and downs, just like others. They were the good and the bad, bright and dark, sweet, bitter, sour, all sorts. I admit that there were moments I almost lost hope in my life with many transitional moments. But I am here. It is because I have been fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful people, that I keep getting up after each struggle. Someone once told me that FAIL can mean a “First Attempt In Learning”. I wouldn’t be here without some FAILs.

I feel now it’s my turn to help my community.

I do so by providing a safe and non-judgmental space for my patients to be their true-selves and to be heard, so that they can initiate a fulfilling life when they go through life’s stages and start or add new roles in life. Whether it is graduating a school, starting a new job, marriage, childbearing, birth, postpartum, career change, separation, mid-age adjustment, menopause, or others, we face many physical and emotional challenges based on social influence.

My patients are my motivation to continue learning and providing care. I have been learning advanced theories and treatments in my fields from numerous educators and mentors. They’ve got my back, and my treatments are a true blend of all my mentors' work to best address the very unique person right in front of me, and I feel so fortunate about this.

Outside of work, I am quite an introvert.

I maintain my work-life balance and recharge physically and mentally by turning off my phone, reading books, feeling nature, cooking seasonal food, and snuggling with a very talkative senior kitty who might make appearances in Tsumugi’s social media posts from time to time. I also recently started learning Kintsugi, the Japanese traditional art of mending broken pottery together with decorative gold.

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

• Complete Channel System, Cody Dodo, L.Ac, May 2026 - present

• Advanced Chinese Medicine : Cancer Care - Treating Patients Across the Oncology Spectrum with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Dr. Evan Rabinowitz, August 2025 to March 2026

• Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) Introductory seminar

• Zhu Scalp Acupuncture for Paralysis: Precision Needling For Stroke Recovery, Sustain Health Academy, July 2025

• Acupuncture For Surviving Adversity mentorship, Yvonne Farrell (Healthy Seminars), February 2024 to October 2024

• Topical Healing Applications of Stones, Jeffrey Yuen, February 2024

• Sinew Channels; Interface with The World Outside, Yvonne Farrell (Healthy Seminars), December 2023

• Advanced Acupuncture Mentorship, Sean Tuten, MSOM, Dipl. OM (NCCAOM), DOM (NM), January - April 2022, April to October 2023

• Divergent Meridians; The Conflict Between Self & Other, Yvonne Farrell (Healthy Seminars), August 2023

• Remote Treatments, Ann Cecil-Sterman, L.Ac. December 2022

• Psyche and Emotions in Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture for the Treatment of the Hidden Roots of Disease - Module 2 - Distance Education, Hamid, D Montakabm, MD (Healthy Seminars), November 2022

• Aligning the Five Spirits for a Renewed Sense of Purpose & Inner Harmony - Distance Education, Yvonne Farrell (Healthy Seminars), November 2022

• ​The Luo-Collaterals: Self-preservation Through Blood Flow, Yvonne Farrell (Healthy Seminars), October 2022

• Peristeam Hydrotherapy Facilitator Certification, Steamy Chick, September 2022 to present

• Dr. Bahr on How to Treat PTSD and Trauma of the Soul, Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine, July 2022

• Jing Fang Single Herbs, Suzanne Robidoux, PhD, CM (China), August 2022 to April 2023

• Teaching Tuesdays Program: Jing Fang Six Syndromes System Case Studies, Suzanne Robidoux, PhD, CM (China), March - November 2022

• Moxibustion: Materials and Methods, Lorraine Wilcox, L.Ac, October 2021

• Classical Chinese Medicine for Depression and Anxiety, Suzanne Robidoux, PhD, CM (China), October 2021

• German Auricular Medicine, Advanced Certificate Program, Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine - October 2021 to Present (Currently Level 2 Certified)

• Jing Fang Six Syndromes System (Shang Han Lun) - 100 Hour Herbal Medicine Program, Suzanne Robidoux, PhD, CM (China), February - November 2021

• Classical Chinese Herbal Medicine, Dr. Jeffrey C. Yuen, March 2021

• Medicine Making: Medicinal Incense Making, Lorraine Wilcox, L.Ac, PhD. June 2021

• Medicine Making: Chinese Herbs for External Application, Lorraine Wilcox, L.Ac. PhD. March 2021

• Medicine Making: Pills, Powders and Syrups, Lorraine Wilcox, L,Ac, PhD. January 2021

• New Insights into the Eight Extraordinary Channels in the Treatment of Infertility and Miscarriage, Dr. Brandon Horn, PhD, JD, LAc, FABORM (Healthy Seminars), December 2020

• Psycho-emotional Disorders and the 8 Extraordinary Vessels, Yvonne Farrell (Healthy Seminars), June 2020

• Sacred Vaginal Ecology, Kristen Gonzales, L.Ac, April 2020

• After Birth; Supporting Postpartum Period with Acupuncture, Herbs, and Nutrition, Laura Erlich, L.Ac (Prod Seminars), January 2019

• Integrated Gynecology, Canadian Gynecology Institute of Chinese Medicine, Toronto, June 2019

• Balance system of Acupuncture Level 1 & 2, and refinement. Sonia Tan, R.TCMP, R.Ac, Toronto, September 2019

• Integrative Acupuncture with Poney Chaing, PhD, R.TCMP, R.Ac, York University, Toronto, September to December 2018

• Seino System Japanese Acupuncture and Internship with Tak Tsurusaki, Toronto, October 2017 to April 2018

• Seino System advanced acupuncture workshop. Dr. Mistunori Seino, Toronto, October 2017

• German Auricular Medicine Level 1, Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine, Toronto, April 2017

• Acupuncture Internship at ALIVE Holistic Health with Mary Wong, R.TCMP, R.Ac, Toronto, January to April 2017

• Cupping Therapy, International Cupping Therapy Association, Oakville, Canada, August 2012

Massage Therapy

• Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT), biannual review courses, Vodder School International, Toronto and Austria, 2010 and ongoing

• Neurokinetic Therapy Level1, Kathy Dooley, DC. Toronto, February 2020

• Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation (TBML), Maya Bolman, RN, IBCLC, Ohio, US, July 2019

• Suina/Tuina Style Breast Care (SBC) level 1 &2 (lactation Massage), Rie Minamida, RM, Japan, Sepember 2017

• Tokumoto Method of Perinatal postural realignment and visceral manipulation, Japan, October 2017

• Spinning babies workshop, Tammy Ryan, Toronto, December 2017

• Mercier Therapy (Pelvic Deep Visceral Manipulation), Chicago, US, April 2014

• Neuroproprioseptive Taping for Lymphedema and musculoskeletal conditions, Oakville, Canada March 2013

• Breast Massage Course, Luise Danieli, Kitchener, Canada 2013

Additional Fields/Miscellaneous

• Birth and Reproductive Trauma Training, Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings, June 2021

• Compassionate Inquiry Online Professional Training, Dr. Gabor Mate and Dr. Sat Dharam Kaur, ND. September 2020 to September 2021 

• Breastfeeding Course (Basics, Management, and Advanced), Mohawk College. September 2020 to August 2021

• Healthy Breasts Foundations Program, Dr. Sat Dharam Kaur ND, January to March 2020

• Motivational Interviewing, Adam Lodzinski, Ph.D, Toronto, March 2020

• CAPPA Lactation Educator Course, Attie Sandink, RN, IBCLC,Burlington, Canada, November 2019

• Movement For Trauma – Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training (MFT1), Toronto, June 2019

• Physiotherapy assessment for Breastfeeding – Maternal and Infant Factors – Mercedes Eustergerling, PT. Toronto, April 2019

• Lactating Breasts Level 1, Merinda Cooper, PT, Toronto, 2018

• Clinical Observation at International Breast Feeding Clinic, Toronto, August 2018

• Clinical Observation at Kidcrew Lactation Clinic, Toronto, July 2017

• Wound Management level 1 and 2; Victoria University, BC, Canada, 2012

• Breastfeeding Management course, INFACT, Toronto, Canada, 2012

• Bach Flower Remedy Level 1, Toronto, 2008

• Enneagram, Moira Canes, Toronto, April 2007

Past Workshops & In-Person Speaking Events for Professionals

• Japanese-English Interpretation for Online YNSA Introductory Seminar and Case Presentation, YoshifumiTomita, OPIS Supplies, May 20, 2026

• TCM and Lactation Care - How to Support Milk Supply - (online), June 2022

• Body, Mind, Spirit of Lactation - Lactation Acupressure for Birth Professionals (Online), March 2020

• Acupressure for Lactation for Birth Professionals, Toronto, July 2019

• Lactation Massage Info Session for Birth Professionals, Nov 2017 ~ ongoing

• How to Take Care of Your Lactating Breasts – free gathering group, Toronto, Jan 2018 ~ ongoing

• Indirect Approach to Lactating Breasts (Tokumoto Method), August 2018 - organizer

• Massage Therapy Approach to Lactating Breasts, In-service at International Breastfeeding Clinic, September 2018

Past Workshops, In-Person Speaking and Community events for Public

• Grounding Technique, Flora’s Walk East Toronto, May 31, 2026

• AcuNADA - A province wide Acupuncture promotion and fundraising week. Lead event organizer, April 2022

• (Peri)Menopausal Breast Health with Chinese Medicine, April 2021

• Acupressure for Lactation – free gathering group, Toronto, August 2019

• Danforth Strong - Acupuncturists Without Borders, August 2018

• Pelvic massage – self-care instruction - (in Japanese), Toronto, 2016

• Menstrual Pain and Self-Care (in Japanese), Toronto, 2016

• Pelvic Health and Exercises (in Japanese), Toronto, 2016

• Guest Speaker for several Breastfeeding groups

Career

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP), Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac), Toronto, ON.

• Non-Council Committee member, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO), December 2022 ~ present

• Private and multi-disciplinary setting, May 2018 ~ present

Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), Toronto, ON

• Objectively Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) examiner for Prometric/College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO), December 2020 ~ present

• Private and multidisciplinary setting, October 2009 ~ present

Registered Nurse (Japan)

• Education & Consulting etc. June 2000 - August 2005

• Hemodialysis Unit, June 2000 - August 2005

• Intensive Care Unit, April 1997 - March 2000

• Coronary Care Unit, April 1997 - March 2000

• Emergency Room, April 1997 - March 2000

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Registered Clinical Engineer including internship (Japan)​​

• Education and Consulting etc. June 2000 - August 2005

• Hemodialysis and Blood Aphaeresis Therapy, June 2000 - August 2005