After impressing visitors at the World Expo, a human washing machine is now available for purchase in Japan, a company spokeswoman said on Friday.
Users lie down in the pod, close the lid, and get cleaned like clothes in a washing machine without the spin while music plays.
A prototype of the device, called the human washer of the future, drew long queues at the six month Expo that ended in Osaka in October after attracting over 27 million visitors. The machine is an updated version of a product first showcased when Osaka hosted the event in 1970.
“Our (company) president was inspired by that as a 10 year old boy at the time,” Science spokeswoman Sachiko Maekura told AFP.
The machine “not only washes your body but also your soul,” she added, while also monitoring users’ heartbeats and other vital signs.
Interest in commercialising the device grew after a US resort company contacted Science, prompting the firm to move from prototype to production. A hotel in Osaka purchased the first unit and plans to offer the service to guests, the spokeswoman said.
Other buyers include Yamada Denki, a major consumer electronics retailer in Japan, which hopes the novelty will attract visitors to its stores. “Because part of the appeal of this machine is rarity, we plan to produce only about 50 units,” Maekura said. Local media reported that the retail price is 60 million yen ($385,000).