Nakamura Sensei's emphasis on experimentation and understanding via direct perception echoes his training in Western science and medicine. He frequently conducted actual scientific experiments to study the effects of Shin-shin-toitsu-do, and to this day, leading Western-style physicians in Japan are prominent practitioners of Japanese yoga. Jiko anji, his method of autosuggestion, which makes use of a mirror and a positive suggestion given before falling asleep, is derived from his experiences in the Himalayas, but the explanation is directly borrowed from his study of Western psychology in Europe.

And certainly, various native Japanese influences can be felt in Shin-shin-toitsu-do. Shinto is the indigenous Japanese religion, emphasizing purity and unification with nature, and its influence has permeated every aspect of Japanese culture. Likewise, Zen Buddhism has had a dramatic impact on Japan beginning with its arrival from China many years ago. Since Nakamura Tempu Sensei grew up and lived within the Japanese cultural matrix, which has been imbued for centuries with Zen and Shinto, it should come as no surprise that some of the elements and aesthetics of these religions can be encountered in his Japanese yoga.

What's more, certain "Japanized" Chinese influences can be found as well. Chinese Taoism has always stressed living in harmony with Nature and oneness with the Universe. Over time it evolved various meditations and health exercises that aimed at not only enlightenment, but also longevity, and in some cases, outright immortality. Centuries ago, like many aspects of Chinese culture, these teachings migrated to Japan, where Taoism became known as Dokyo.

Taoist mystics, who had attained a high degree of spiritual development and physical vitality--and according to some legends, immortality as well--were called Hsien in China. In Japan, this Chinese character was pronounced "Sen" or "Sennin." Esoteric Taoist meditative practices and health maintenance techniques sometimes come under the general heading of Sennin-do, while arcane Taoist derived healing arts can be generically termed Sennin Ryoji. The influences of these Taoist methods, which are sometimes dubbed Senjutsu and/or Sendo, can also be felt in Shin-shin-toitsu-do. In particular, the emphasis on the development of life energy in Shin-shin-toitsu-do is paralleled in Chinese Taoist chi-kung (kiko in Japanese). More than one author has written that the Taoist Sennin were the Japanese equivalents to the Indian yogi, and their effect is particularly felt in some Shin-shin-toitsu-do breathing exercises and the self-healing arts. In fact, Shin-shin-toitsu-do can also be thought of as a form of Sennin-do.

And while certainly not a form of martial arts, Japanese budo ("martial ways") have also had a strong effect on Shin-shin-toitsu-do. Nakamura Sensei was a practitioner of batto, a form of Japanese swordsmanship, and the influence of the martial arts can be felt in certain moving exercises, or forms of dynamic mediation, taught in Japanese yoga. During the Russo-Japanese War, he used his sword in battle and earned the rather dubious nickname "Man-Cutting Tempu." Yet after returning from India, he stressed love and protection for all creations, and during W.W.II saved the life of a downed American pilot, whom Japanese villagers were beating. While Nakamura Sensei continued to practice solo sword forms for the rest of his life, he was quick to emphasize that he envisioned no enemy while performing batto as moving meditation.