Automatic 'human washing machines' can adapt to your mood

Japanese company Science is commercializing the Mirai Ningen Sentakuki – a futuristic washing machine for humans – after receiving positive feedback at this year's Osaka-Kansai Expo. Only 50 models will be produced, with a price tag of $385,000.

How does the Mirai Ningen Sentakuki human washing machine work?

The device has become one of the highlights of the Osaka Expo 2025. It has attracted more than 40,000 experiencers among the event's "massive" 27 million visitors.

That attention, along with interest from an unnamed US resort company, convinced Science to commercialize the prototype. A hotel in Osaka bought the first one, presumably for guests who had long fantasized about being 'a dirty dish' washed in a dishwasher-like machine.

Now that it has enough height, consumer electronics giant Yamada Holdings wants a piece of the pie. The company plans to display a working demo of the Mirai Human Washing Machine at its Ikebukuro flagship store starting December 25, complete with an 'experience corner' where visitors can see what all the hype is about.

An actual release date has yet to be determined, but only about 50 units will be produced, making it a Lamborghini of the shower industry.

Scientific president Yasuaki Aoyama said the ultimate goal is for those who missed the exhibition to finally be able to try out the futuristic bathing technology that, as the company advertises, Mirai Ningen Sentakuk not only cleanses the body but also "cleanses the soul."

The washing machine for humans in 2025 only vaguely resembles Sanyo's prototype, and uses technology that was unheard of even a few years ago. At its core is a microbubble system, something that Science has spent a lot of time perfecting.

Microbubble technology is exactly what it sounds like – it uses microbubbles to clean more effectively, using less water and taking fewer minutes to rinse off a surface. The company claims that these bubbles are invisible to the naked eye and penetrate pores to refresh the skin as effectively as an exfoliant.

" The microbubbles slowly rise to the surface of the water at a speed of about a few centimeters per minute ," the company explains. " Many of the microbubbles are negatively charged, a fact that has been confirmed at our research facilities. On the other hand, organic matter is positively charged, so the bubbles attach to the organic matter, detach, and then rise to the surface of the water along with the organic matter. One application that takes full advantage of this characteristic is in the bathtub ."

Users step into the 8.2ft (2.5m) long, 8.5ft (2.6m) high and 3.3ft (1m) wide pod, sit in the reclining seat and close the lid, after which music, images and a micro-bubble wash begin. If desired, the machine can perform a drying cycle, allowing users to emerge from the pod ready to wear in just 15 minutes. The company claims that it's not just about efficiency, but also about the experience – like a personal spa session in your own home.

Mirai Ningen Sentakuk price and where to buy this "human washing machine"?

The first-generation Mirai isn't for homes. Priced at around 60 million yen—about $385,000 — it's aimed squarely at luxury hotels, spas, resorts, and theme parks. Science Inc. says it will initially produce just 40 to 50 of them, each hand-built. A hotel has already placed its first order, and more customers are waiting.

' As technology develops and mass production becomes more feasible, a more affordable housing model may be introduced ,' the company said.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 08 December 2025