Sales have begun in Japan for a device that looks as if it escaped from a science-fiction film — a “human washing machine.” The development was presented by Science Inc., and it costs just $385,000.
Inside, everything is designed for comfort and technology. Every detail has been thought through: built-in sensors monitor a person's condition to prevent overheating, panic, and other problems. You step into the capsule, settle comfortably into a seat, and then the magic begins: microbubbles (smaller than a pore!) do all the work — washing, removing sebum and dead skin cells, then rinsing and drying, all set to music. A kind of mini spa. After 15 minutes, you come out clean, relaxed, and perhaps slightly stunned.
A similar development was first shown back in 1970 at the World Expo in Osaka. At the time, it remained a “wow exhibit.” But Science chairman Yasuaki Aoyama was so impressed by that machine in childhood that more than 50 years later he decided it was time to make the dream a reality.
The device measures almost like a small room: 2.5 × 1 × 2.6 meters. The capsule is aimed primarily at luxury hotels, spas, and resorts. In total, about 50 units will be produced, each assembled by hand. The first unit has already been ordered.
