Who We Are

Dr Mimi Ishimaru-Cortez, ND LAc (California registered)

Dr. Mitsuko (Mimi) Ishimaru Cortez is a California state board licensed Naturopathic Doctor as well as a licensed acupuncturist. As a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist, Dr. Mimi’s approach to treat the patient is unique in terms of integrating oriental and western natural therapies. She is dedicated to guiding the patients to achieve their optimal health. Her treatment starts with listening to the patient’s story, understanding the factors that affect the patient’s health, and seeking to find the root causes of the disease rather than treating symptoms.

Dr. Mimi has a diverse background. She was a financial analyst in a high-tech company before changing her career 180 degree to be a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

This unique background allows her to understand the people who work in a high stress work environment. As her passion to help others grow bigger, she decided to have additional training to be a licensed acupuncturist.

She focuses in the area of chronic disease, women’s health, anti-aging therapies, mental/emotional health, pain management, and infertility. Studying extensively with Dr. Hua Ling Xu who is a Chinese medical gynecology expert, and Christine Chung, LAc who is a board-certified fellow of American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM) helped her solidify the knowledge in those areas.

As a native Japanese who has received American education, Dr. Mitsuko has been very fortunate to learn directly from well-renowned Japanese acupuncture masters by assisting and translating their seminars held both in California and in Japan. She is also one of very few practitioners who performs Japanese style facial rejuvenation technique which she learned from Yoko Ooasa, who is the dean of acupuncture and moxibustion department in Shikoku Medical College.

  • Doctorate degree in Naturopathic medicine: Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

    (Toronto, ON, Canada)

  • Master of Science in Oriental Medicine: Acupuncture and Integrative College, Berkeley

    (Berkeley, California) (Summa Cum Laude)

  • National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and California

    Registered Acupuncturist

  • Certified medical qi gong practitioner

  • Japanese style facial rejuvenation course completion

  • Chinese style facial rejuvenation course completion

Albert Cortez, CMP (California registered)

Albert Cortez is a California licensed massage therapist. He has over 21 years of experience and focuses on structural alignment and pain management using various types of modalities - Neuromuscular re-education therapy, Active release technique, myofascia release, cranial sacral, deep tissue, and clinical assessment. Albert received 1,500 hours of massage training and completed his associate degree in massage therapy in Florida, United States. He has also studied extensively in Oriental Medicine including acupuncture theory as well as the area of Chiropractic, which makes his bodywork advanced and one of a kind. He integrates a variety of techniques and provide tailored therapy to each client.

He is a very intuitive therapist, which enables him to quickly connect with the client’s body condition and formulates the plan that is required at the very moment. Which means you may experience a completely different session each time you see him.

Before being a massage therapist in the United States, he worked as an office worker, or as a cook searching for a job that is best suited for him. He has always wanted to help support others, and this desire made him become a massage therapist. Seeing his clients’ big smile after the massage, reducing their pain, and supporting changes in their life kept him learning new techniques and seeking for higher education.

He is a very active person with lots of hobbies. He loves to cook, break dancing, skateboarding, surfing, and recently snowboarding. He is excited to share his expertise to Kami no Nami Healing Arts Yoyogi customers and looking forward to working with you to help you achieve your optimal health.