Japan's 15-Minute Human Washing Machine

A Japanese company has introduced an AI-powered shower capsule that promises a futuristic bathing experience. Science Co., a leading Japanese shower head manufacturer, has launched the ‘Mirai Ningen Sentakuki,' an AI-driven “washing machine of the future” that cleans users in just 15 minutes.

“We're about 70 per cent there,” said company Chairman Yasuaki Aoyama, sharing his insights at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion in late October, as reported by Japanese outlet Asahi Shimbun.

The device is a fully enclosed shower capsule that works like a high-tech hygiene chamber, completing the entire washing and drying process in just 15 minutes. The user sits in the centre of the transparent pod, which partially fills with water. Sensors embedded in the seat monitor the person's pulse and other biological metrics, adjusting the water temperature as per comfort.

Next, the user experiences a powerful blast of high-speed water jets mixed with microscopic air bubbles. As these bubbles burst, they create a pressure wave that scrubs away grime from the skin, much like the cleaning method used for delicate electronic components that cannot be washed with chemicals.

The pod doesn't just clean your body, it cleanses the mind as well. Powered by artificial intelligence, it analyses the user's biometrics to gauge their emotional state. Based on this data, it projects a calming video inside the capsule to help the user relax – offering a psychological deep-clean alongside the physical one.

While this technology may seem groundbreaking, its inspiration comes from the 1970 Japan World Exposition. Back then, Sanyo Electric Co. (now Panasonic Holdings Corp.) introduced the Ultrasonic Bath, a similar device that used ultrasound waves and plastic balls for body massage. Though the concept didn't become mainstream, it left a lasting impact on Aoyama. As a child, he eagerly waited in line to try the bath, and that experience sparked his vision for an automated washing system.

“It made me excited, thinking about what kind of future there would be,” said Mr Aoyama. “We will offer a new human washing machine as a legacy from the 1970 expo.”

Science Co. plans to showcase the Mirai Ningen Sentakuki at Expo 2025 in Osaka, where 1,000 visitors will get the chance to experience it. The company is already accepting reservations through its website, and for those who can't make it to Osaka, a home version of the capsule is in development.