From Expo Showcase to Market Launch: Japan’s Futuristic Bathing Machine Goes Viral
The Osaka Expo has officially wrapped up — and it ended on a high note. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Expo announced that the event not only recovered from its early financial struggles but actually turned a profit.
By 11 October, more than 25 million visitors had passed through the gates, with merchandise sales surpassing 80 billion yen. A big part of that success came from the adorable official mascot Myaku-Myaku — and an unexpected showstopper: the “Future Bath Machine”.
The innovative bathing pod drew massive attention, leading its developer, Science Co., Ltd., to announce plans for mass production shortly after the Expo’s closure.
🛁 Reimagining a 1970s Vision
The concept of the Future Bath Machine actually dates back 55 years to the 1970 Osaka Expo, when Sanyo (now Panasonic) introduced a capsule-style automated bath. The idea was to let users sit in a pod while ultrasonic bubbles cleaned their body, finishing with a gentle warm air dry.
Half a century later, Science Co. — known for its Fine Bubble water technology — invested 100 million yen to revive this vision with a modern twist.
Their latest version offers a fully automated 15-minute bathing experience, combining microbubbles, AI-controlled water jets, and even biometric sensors that monitor your heart rate and nervous system. The system automatically adjusts music and visuals to match your relaxation level, creating a spa-like experience from the future.
🌍 Global Buzz and Immediate Demand
Originally built just for the Expo, Science Co. didn’t plan to commercialise the prototype. But that quickly changed — international buyers began making offers within a day of its debut, with heavy interest from the United States and Europe.
Long queues formed at the exhibition’s demo booth, and after witnessing the excitement first-hand, the company decided to begin production once the Expo ended.
“We received so many requests from people saying, ‘I want to bathe again!’ or ‘This should be part of everyday life,’” said company president Yasuaki Aoyama.
So far, the firm has already received six confirmed orders, including from Japanese hotels, where it’s set to offer a new kind of wellness experience.
♨️ Bathing Freedom for All
Science Co. hopes the Future Bath Machine will help Japan’s ageing society by offering safe, assisted bathing options for elderly care — what they call “bathing freedom”.
The company’s Mirable shower heads, powered by Fine Bubble technology, have already sold over 1.5 million units in Japan. Fine bubbles — microscopic air bubbles under 100 micrometres in diameter — are recognised by the ISO and have applications across healthcare, agriculture, and even space exploration.
Science Co. has also partnered with Japan Manned Space Systems (JAMSS) to adapt this microbubble cleaning system for astronauts — proving that the future of hygiene might just start in your bathroom.
Source: Science