The world’s first robotic human washing machine, which captured attention at the 1970 Japan World Exposition, is getting a futuristic update for the Osaka Kansai Expo this April.
Originally showcased by Sanyo Electric Co., now Panasonic Holdings Corp., the machine never gained traction in the consumer market.
Over 50 years later, Science Co., a showerhead manufacturer based in Osaka, is revamping the concept using advanced technology. The updated version, named Mirai Ningen Sentakuki (“human washing machine of the future”), will be featured in the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, hosted by the Osaka prefectural and city governments.
Visitors at the Expo will have the chance to experience it firsthand, and the company also has plans to introduce a home-use model for consumers.
“We’re roughly 70 percent complete,” said Yasuaki Aoyama, chairman of Science Co., during an Oct. 23 lecture. “Our plan is to let 1,000 general visitors try it during the Expo.”
According to Aoyama, the machine can accommodate seven to eight users daily, offering them a full “wash-and-dry” session. Reservations can be made through a dedicated page on the company’s website.
Designed like a jet fighter cockpit, the human washing machine features a transparent cover that opens from the back. Once seated in the center, the user is partially submerged in warm water. Sensors in the seat monitor vital signs, such as pulse, to ensure the water temperature is optimal for the individual.
An AI system further enhances the experience by analyzing the user’s emotional state—calm or excited—and projecting soothing images on the transparent cover’s interior to leave the user feeling rejuvenated. The entire process, from wash to dry, takes just 15 minutes.
Sanyo Electric’s original human washing machine, showcased at the 1970 event, was called the Ultrasonic Bath. This egg-shaped tub automatically filled with warm water and used ultrasound waves for cleaning. To enhance relaxation, it released plastic balls that massaged the bather’s body.
The exhibit drew massive crowds, with visitors standing in long lines to catch a glimpse. Among them was Yasuaki Aoyama, then a fourth-grader living in the city. Seeing the futuristic machine sparked his imagination. “It made me dream about what kind of future might lie ahead,” he said, recalling the experience.
During that era, many homes lacked private baths, and public bathhouses were the norm. Now, as the chairman of a company specializing in advanced bathtubs and showerheads that use microscopic bubbles for cleaning, Aoyama felt inspired to bring his childhood dream to life.
“For the 2025 Expo, we’re introducing a new human washing machine as a tribute to the legacy of the 1970 event,” Aoyama shared.
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