People stretch out inside the pod, shut the lid, and the machine washes them like laundry—minus the spinning—while music plays in the background.
A prototype of the machine, dubbed the “human washer of the future,” drew long queues at the six-month World Expo in Osaka, which concluded in October after attracting more than 27 million visitors.
Modern Revival of a 1970 Osaka Expo Innovation
Created by the Japanese company Science, the device is a modernized version of a product showcased during Osaka’s previous Expo in 1970.
Science representative Sachiko Maekura told AFP that their company president drew inspiration from that exhibit when he was a 10-year-old boy.
She added that the machine “cleans not only your body but also your spirit,” and it also tracks the user’s heartbeat and other vital signs.
After a U.S. resort company contacted Science to ask about commercializing the prototype, the firm decided to produce it.
First Unit Goes to Osaka Hotel
According to the spokesperson, a hotel in Osaka bought the first unit and plans to offer the service to its guests.
Other buyers include Yamada Denki—one of Japan’s major consumer electronics chains—which hopes the device will attract more visitors to its stores.
“Since the uniqueness of the product is part of its charm, we intend to manufacture only about 50 machines,” Maekura explained.
Local reports say the machine will sell for 60 million yen (around $385,000).
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