The bathroom as we know it could have its days numbered. Although it may sound like science fiction, a Japanese company has developed a ‘people washing machine’ that promises to revolutionize the. For now, not marketed on a large scalebut everything indicates that this invention, which mixes technology, well-being and futuristic design, could become a real alternative to .
The idea is not new. Already in the 1970 Osaka World Expoa Japanese company presented a prototype of ‘ultrasonic bath’a capsule that cleansed, massaged and dried the user in an automated 15-minute cycle. However, the project never came to market.
Inspired by this model, the Science company has taken up the concept half a century later and turned it into a functional reality: the Mirai Ningen Sentakkiwhich in Spanish means ‘human washing machine of the future’, exhibited in the Osaka Expo 2025. “In 1970, as a child, I encountered the Human Washing Machine at the Osaka Expo and promised myself: ‘I want to turn it into something that can actually be used one day’“, , Aoyama.
Decades later, the daughter’s skin problems led him to investigate methods of frictionless cleaningand thus discovered the calls ‘Fine Bubbles’microbubbles capable of delicately cleansing the skin. “The Mirai ‘human washing machine’ is a futuristic bathroom device that even relaxes the mind,” explains the inventor. “It’s not just about washing the body. We want to offer a experience that calms the mind and completely changes the lifestyle“he adds.
How the ‘human washing machine’ works
The capsule has pod shape and allows the user lie down inside a reclining seat. When closed, a fully automated bath cycle divided into three phases: cleaning, rinsing and drying. Everything is accompanied by relaxing projections and ambient music, creating a multisensory experience.
The system uses warm water, microbubbles and compressed air to clean the skin without the need to rub. Inside, a widescreen screen shows natural scenessuch as reefs or sunsets, while a voice guides the user in breathing exercises.
The complete cycle takes about 15 minutes. First, a foam bath and massage of bubbles; then, one ultra-soft rain rinse; and finally a ionized air drying that leaves the skin warm and scented. Engineers assure that the device achieves 95% skin cleansing, similar to a conventional shower, but with greater muscle relaxation.
From luxury to well-being
The medium that The first models will be installed in hotels in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo by the end of 2025. Science has confirmed the initial production of six units, intended exclusively for luxury establishments and spas.
He size of the capsule, it occupies almost an entire room, and its high cost prevent, for now, its installation in private homes. However, several tourism companies are already studying opening ‘automated spas’ with individual washing and intelligent massage cabins.
The first foreign tourists will be able to test the human washing machine in 2026when selected hotels begin to offer it as an exclusive service in their premium suites. According to the Japan National Tourism Organizationthe country seeks to attract visitors interested in technology applied to well-beinga sector that grows 18% annually.
But beyond the media impact and luxury, the Mirai Ningen Sentakki could have a much more transcendental application: the assistive care. Its ergonomic design allows older people or people with reduced mobility to bathe without physical effort or risk of falls.
In Spain, it is estimated that 9% of the population has “some disability or limitation that has caused, or may cause, dependency for activities of daily living or support needs for personal autonomy in equal opportunities.
In addition, the Catalog of services of this law includes the home carethe teleassistance and the day centers as pillars of the system. A device like the ‘human washing machine’ could fit perfectly into this vision, providing a tool that promotes independence without sacrificing comfort or safety.
