In 1939, Dr. Kazuyoshi Masagaki, an expert in fermentation technology, expanded on Kozui’s findings. Masagaki selected 16 strains of microorganisms exhibiting properties which were especially beneficial to health. He established a “mixed culture method for microorganisms” producing a fermentation product exhibiting excellent pro-health activity. This confirmed Mechnikov’s hypothesis that microorganisms such as lactobacilli are essential to good health.

Thanks to the discoveries of Kozui, the efforts of Masagaki and the cooperation of numerous associates in the Japanese scientific world, Seigen’s unique and elaborate manufacturing technology has been well established.

Professor Kazuyoshi Masagaki devoted his life to the study of microorganisms. While working at the Otani Research Center Professor Masagaki reviewed the discovery of Nobel Laureate Professor Mechnikov on lactobacillus and current research being conducted at Kozui Otani Research Center. Finally, after many years, Masagaki perfected what became known as the Symbiotic Culturing Method.

On January 25, 1950, Professor Masagaki gave a lecture entitled, Life Span and Effective Bacteria, for which he was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Minister of Health and Welfare. The essence of Professor Masagaki’s lecture is as follows:

All living creatures have certain life spans, and a survey of all animals regarding their ideal or allotted life span reveals two principles; The first principle is that animals live at least five to twenty times the length of time it takes to grow to adulthood. The second principle is that there is a strong relationship between life span and the production of toxins within the intestines.

All animals live from five to twenty times the length of time it takes to grow into a mature adult. Dogs, for instance, typically grow to adulthood in two years and live to approximately ten to fifteen years of age. Elephants have a maturation period of about twenty years and live to over one hundred and fifty years. Scholars see humans as having a physical maturation period of roughly twenty years, so five times that would be one hundred years. Why is it, then, that very few of us live that long?

Here the second principle comes into play. Animals in which nonbeneficial bacteria proliferate and produce toxins within the intestines have shorter life spans, while animals without these toxins have longer life spans.

The crane lives ninety to a hundred years and turtles approximately three hundred. When dissecting the intestines of these animals you never find putrefying bacteria causing a rotten smell. The reason why birds and turtles live so long is that there is no time for nonbeneficial bacteria to proliferate inside of these animals.

Humans living naturally in the wilderness have stools with almost no foul smell, and generally they live much longer than people in large, modern cities. Living in the city and eating foods that are not natural increases the amount of abnormal fermentation, resulting in the production of intestinal toxins.

Absorbing these toxins causes the various organs within the body to degenerate and the individual ages more rapidly, unable to live his or her allotted normal life span. It was in regard to this fact that Professor Mechnikov developed his lactobacillus protocol and published his findings.

It was here that our research led to the sixteen organism symbiotic culture method. The interesting thing about symbiotic culturing is that, when one bacterium becomes stronger an antibiotic reaction occurs and surrounding bacteria produce antibodies against it, while at the same time becoming stronger themselves. This idea of mutual strengthening is the theory underlying symbiotic culturing.

Because the substance that is secreted by these beneficial bacteria is difficult to drink in large amounts, we have concentrated it in an unaltered state. Taking just a small amount shows complete effect without the necessity for increasing the number of living bacteria within the intestines.

This is the most effective method for preventing intestinal self-toxification, and the research of Kozui Otani derives from a description of this in some 2,500 year old Buddhist scriptures.

Daigo, as it is referred to in these ancient scriptures, is a bacterial secretion with an extraordinarily delicious flavor. By eating these effective ingredients and stopping abnormal fermentation within the intestines, you enable nutrients to be completely absorbed by the body, while preventing the absorption of toxins. This is the first thing one must do to maintain perfect health and prolong the life span.

Kozui Otani’s idea was to first apply effective bacteria to the fetus. Any toxins developing within the mother’s womb will have an enormous effect on the fetus, so you want to prevent the production of toxins. You build a healthy infant, because if poisons are absorbed while the tissues of the body are still soft and not yet hardened, it will have a positive effect on future health.

This application is gradually broadened to building fine physical constitutions for all citizens. Add to this mental training, and emphasis on harmony between the material and the spiritual, and you will establish an intelligent culture of peace.

This is most important for the future of mankind. It is my hope that these ideas will be popularized as quickly as possible throughout all nations, and that they will be of use in raising the health level and longevity of people worldwide.