Orders for so-called “future human washing machines” that can complete a full-body bath in 15 minutes are increasing in Japan. A new type of automatic bath device is attracting attention as the demand for easy hygiene management is growing due to the aging population and the increase of single-person households.
According to the Japanese weekly Shukanbunshun on the 22nd, the “bath experience” provided by the human washing machine released by Japan’s Science Company last month is drawing attention. The device has a streamlined design reminiscent of the cockpit of a spaceship in a future appearance, and Shukanbunshun said it reminds him of the “Medical Machine,” a recovery device in the Japanese animation “Dragon Ball.”
When a user puts shampoo on his hair and leans against the backrest, the message “Fill water” is displayed on the screen and hot water is sprayed from under his feet. Within seconds, about 350 liters of water rises to the bottom of the chest and enters a full-fledged cleaning stage.
In the cleaning process, a “microbubble” is generated to wash the skin, and the submerged area is cleaned naturally even if the user does not do much. At the same time, a sensor mounted on the back analyzes the user’s electrocardiogram and autonomic nerve conditions to provide images and music that give stability.
The water stream is then sprayed toward the upper part of the neck, face and head, and the intensity of the water stream is automatically adjusted by artificial intelligence (AI) based on electrocardiogram data to minimize discomfort. After the 15-minute shower process, strong wind is sprayed along with the drainage to dry the whole body.
Reporter Shukanbunshun, who went on the experience, said, “It is a fully automatic system that cleans the whole body evenly in 15 minutes,” adding, “It will be useful for those who feel that bathing is cumbersome or those who have difficulty bathing alone.”
The human washing machine costs about 60 million yen and is manufactured on a custom-made basis and takes about three months to deliver. The introduction has been decided at a crystal hotel in Dotonbori, Osaka, and a salon in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and inquiries are continuing from hotels with bathrooms and overseas, the company said.
Earlier, it was reported that it will be sold at the LABI Ikebukuro Main Store in Toshima-gu, Tokyo through Yamada Holdings, a Japanese consumer electronics distributor.
The industry is also paying attention to the possibility that the device will be used in the field of care and healthcare in Japanese society, which is rapidly aging. In fact, in some care sites in Japan, equipment that applied the concept of a human washing machine is already used for the elderly or severely disabled people with mobility difficulties.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
