Dec 30, 2024 13:00:00

What was the 'human washing machine' exhibited at the 1970 Osaka Expo?

The 1970

World Expo held in Osaka had the theme of 'Progress and Harmony for Mankind,' and was attended by a total of 77 countries, attracting approximately 64 million visitors. Moon rocks , electric cars, linear motor cars, moving walkways and other exhibits were on display at the Expo, attracting much attention. Among the exhibits was the ' Ultrasonic Bus ,' exhibited by Sanyo Electric , now a subsidiary of Panasonic.

A Washing Machine for Human Beings, from 1970 - Core77
https://www.core77.com/posts/134471/A-Washing-Machine-for-Human-Beings-from-1970

To use the ultrasonic bath, simply climb the ladder and enter the machine with your head at the top.

When the device is activated, it first sprays warm water at the set temperature onto your body for five minutes.

Once the chamber is filled with warm water, an ultrasonic bath is performed, during which ultrasonic waves are applied to the body for three minutes, followed by a two-minute hot rinse cycle with soapy water.

The water in the chamber is then drained, warm air is blown over it to dry it, and infrared and ultraviolet rays are applied to sterilize it.

Each bath takes about 15 minutes.

The Ultrasonic Bath was never actually released. At the time of writing, the prototype was stored in

the Panasonic Museum, owned by Panasonic, which acquired Sanyo Electric as a wholly owned subsidiary in 2011.

In addition, the ' Future Human Washing Machine ,' developed by Science Corporation, is scheduled to be exhibited at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025.

Science Mirabus TVCM (Human Washing Machine Edition) - YouTube


Foreign media outlet Core77 states that the Mirai Human Washing Machine is 'expected to be used in the healthcare field.'