I began studying Japanese acupuncture immediately after leaving School. Unfortunately the Japanese style is not part of the curriculum and the board exam is based solely on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Thats not to to say the two differ greatly, All the points and basic theory are exactly same, however, the flavour is rather different.
I'd heard a quote by Bob Flaws while I was at school, it went, "If you want to learn herbs go to China, but if you want to learn acupuncture go to Japan". This intriguing little quote also supported something Dr Mikio Sankey had told me when I'd studied with him a year earlier, he said "The channels are not deep but superficial, to understand this learn Japanese 
acupuncture". I figured two highly respected practitioners in their field couldn't be wrong, so with a head full of questions I dove into the Japanese style. Through the kind help of Alan Jansson an acupuncturist from Australia I was able to begin the process of learning the Japanese style based on the teachings of Ikeda Masakazu.
Now years later I'm beginning to understand the sophistication and beauty of this style. Unlike its Chinese relative the needling technique is very gentle, in fact most patients don't feel anything, just a building sense of relaxation as the needles are inserted. Within a traditional approach the treatment is divided into 2, the root and the branch. The branch is the symptom, the root is the underlying imbalance. Within Japanese acupuncture the underlying imbalance is considered 80% of the treatment and this alone will often remove the symptom. I've yet to find a style of acupuncture that deals with the root so effectively, this is why I predominately use this style to treat the root cause.
Japanese acupuncture, is gentle and effective. It's the perfect style for those of us who aren't so keen on needles. If you have any questions about this style please feel free to contact me at flowingriver.acu@gmail.com