Makiko Sugishita Claimed

Makiko Sugishita

Makiko Sugishita is the founder and CEO of KaleidoForest Co., Ltd. She is a Forest Therapy Guide and Therapist based in Yakushima, Japan: the first site in the world to conduct nature- and forest-based medical research activities.

Before moving to Yakushima in March 2020, she spent 20+ years addressing health inequalities in vulnerable populations of Africa and Southeast Asia as an expert of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and various UN organizations.

Since moving to Yakushima, she has devoted her work and life to helping people restore the relationship between humans and nature. She has shifted from the “human health” focus of her previous work abroad to a more comprehensive aim: “our planetary health”. Crucial to this is, of course, the myriad wisdom nature provides to us—and its application to our human lives. Thus was her idiosyncratic method of engaging with this wisdom born: the deep Shinrinyoku™ program by KaleidoForest.

Makiko is the first dual-certified Forest Therapy Guide in Japan, holding certifications from both ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) as well as the Forest Therapy Society. Since moving to Yakushima in 2020, she has guided close to 1,000 people in her KaleidoForest deep Shinrinyoku™ program. In 2024, she became a certified ANFT trainer to train forest therapy guides at the global level.

In addition to leading KaleidoForest team, she plays various roles including a representative of a board of directors for General Incorporated Association of Regenerative Leadership Japan, and a designated ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) Global Advisor for the Yakushima Board of Education, giving lectures on sustainability topics for teachers and pupils alike. She is also a Board member of Yakushima Onoaida Clinic, which is run by her husband Dr. Sugishita—who himself is engaged in forest-based medical research activities.

She holds a B.A. in international law from Kansai University/Japan, an M.A. in Public Health (International Health) from Johns Hopkins University/USA, and an M.A. in Economic and Social Development from the University of Pittsburgh/USA.