Thinner needles
The attention to precise point location in Japanese acupuncture means that the needles don’t have to work as hard. As such, most Japanese acupuncturists use very thin needles and insert them very shallowly. It is not uncommon for a patient to feel no needle sensation whatsoever throughout an entire treatment.
Some people favor the traditional Chinese approach—”I really feel it working“—but Japanese acupuncture treatments are equally powerful and generally preferable for those who are physically weak or needle sensitive.