The Human Washing Machine at an expo in Osaka. Credit: Nikkei.
The future of bathing is here, and it looks like a high-tech escape pod from a sci-fi movie. Science Inc., a tech company based in Osaka, Japan, has officially launched its “Mirai Human Washing Machine,” or the Mirai Ningen Sentakuki — the Human Washing Machine of the Future. It is a massive, reclining pod that promises to wash, rinse, and dry its occupant from head to toe in about 15 minutes, all while playing relaxing music. Forget scrubbing. This machine does the work for you, all for a staggering ¥60 million, or about US$385,000.
“This pod doesn’t just wash your body — it ‘washes the soul,’” said company spokeswoman Sachiko Maekura, apparently with no particular afterthought to how ridiculous this all sounds.
A Futuristic Bath, Reborn from 1970
The idea isn’t new. In 1970, at the first Osaka World Expo, Sanyo Electric unveiled an early version of an automated “human washing machine.” It was a chrome capsule that looked like a prop from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Sanyo’s dream was to automate hygiene.
You can see that original pod, which now sits in the Panasonic Museum, frozen in retrofuturistic glory. “The bath incorporated the latest technology and conjured up visions of the future with its daring design,” the museum notes.
Credit: Science Inc.
For Yasuaki Aoyama, the current chairman of Science Inc., that childhood memory never faded. “Our president was inspired by that as a 10-year-old boy at the time,” Maekura told AFP. Five decades later, Aoyama decided to bring the dream back with modern sensors, artificial intelligence, and microbubbles.
Measuring about 8.2 feet long and 8.5 feet tall, it’s a capsule designed for one. Users recline in a seat as the pod seals shut. Then, the show begins: microbubbles, fine mist, projected visuals, and ambient music work together to create what the company calls “a space where you can relax and refresh.”
The company claims these bubbles penetrate deep into the pores, lifting away oil, dirt, and dead skin more effectively than a standard wash. A sensor that makes contact with the user’s back measures biometric data, like heart rate, in real time. Based on this data, the machine optimizes the bathing environment. For instance, it projects “personalized images … on the inside walls” and adjusts the water strength and temperature to suit the user’s mood.
Luxury At a Matching Price
The Mirai Human Washing Machine was a massive attraction again at the recent 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. More than 40,000 prospective bathers applied to try out the machine during the event, which drew 27 million visitors
The machine’s high price is firmly aimed at the luxury commercial spa market. Think high-end hotels, Japanese onsens, theme parks, and health resorts. Science Inc. plans to produce a limited run of only 40 to 50 hand-built units. An unnamed Osaka hotel has already committed to buying the first one. Another 5 to 8 units are already reserved.
Credit: Science Inc.
However, Maekura says the company is planning to scale up production and would like to offer a cheaper version of their product for home use. This vision is in line with Japan’s long-running fascination with automation and care robots. Japan is a country with one of the world’s most rapidly aging populations. A device that can wash, dry, and monitor a person’s vitals is essentially a prototype for future automated elderly care systems.
For now, the general public can get a peek. Home electronics giant Yamada Holdings will display a working demo, complete with an “experience corner,” at its flagship LABI1 LIFE SELECT Ikebukuro center in Tokyo starting December 25.
It may be the Lamborghini of showers, but the future of bathing is now on full display.
AloJapan.com