India (Commonwealth Union)_ A new capsule-style “human washing machine” that drew crowds at the recent World Expo in Osaka has now officially entered the commercial market. Created by the Osaka-based tech firm Science, the device allows a person to lie inside an enclosed pod, close the lid, and receive a gentle full-body wash complete with soft lighting and calming music. Nicknamed the “washer of the future,” the machine became one of the expo’s surprise sensations. The idea is rooted in a similar concept shown at the 1970 Osaka Expo, an exhibit that left a strong impression on Science’s current president when he saw it as a child.
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Company spokesperson Sachiko Maekura says the new model is designed not only to clean the body but also to “wash the soul.” Sensors inside the pod monitor a user’s heartbeat and other vital signs, ensuring the process remains safe and soothing from start to finish. Interest from overseas businesses, including a major American resort operator, encouraged Science to move forward with commercial production. The first unit has been purchased by a hotel in Osaka, which plans to offer the experience as a signature attraction for guests looking for something unusual and relaxing.
Electronics retailer Yamada Denki has also bought a unit, hoping the novelty will draw more customers into its stores. The company plans to display a demonstration model beginning December 25 and will set up an area where visitors can see how the system works. Because of its limited production capacity and the machine’s specialized parts, Science expects to manufacture only about 50 units. Local reports estimate the price at around 60 million yen, roughly 385,000 dollars. Science chairman Yasuaki Aoyama says the goal is to let people who missed the expo experience the same technology that fascinated many visitors.
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Inside the machine, the user lies in a 2.3-meter-long capsule as fine bubbles and a gentle mist shower wash over the skin. The pod then drains, rinses, and finally dries the user automatically, completing the entire process in about fifteen minutes. The first hotel to offer the service, the Dotonbori Crystal Hotel III in Osaka’s Namba district, launched its “Future Human Washing Machine Plan” on December 9. Guests can book a session much like a spa treatment, stepping out refreshed without lifting a finger. With curiosity growing, the machine is quickly becoming one of Japan’s most talked-about wellness innovations with a growing public interest.
