Japanology Plus

Hello, and welcome to Japanology Plus.
I'm Peter Barakan.

Our theme for today is washing machines.

Laundromats and dry cleaners
are ubiquitous in Japan,

but almost every household
has a washing machine,

and many people make use of
theirs on a practically daily basis.

This has led to the development of
really high-tech washing machines,

with a multitude of functions.

And some five million of them
are sold just in Japan every year.

You can see some of the latest
models behind me here,

and on today's program

we'll take a look at the evolution
of Japanese washing machines,

from the very early days,
all the way up to the state of the art.

Washing Machines

Washing machines seem to have evolved

in different ways
in different parts of the world,

depending on history, customs,
and household conditions.

In Europe, front-load washing
machines are common.

A spinning drum repeatedly lifts
and drops the laundry with a thump.

And it seems that a striking action

has been part of laundry culture
in Europe since Roman times.

Front-load washers are a modern
take on that tradition.

A different technique was
widely adopted in the USA:

a tub of water was heated over a fire,

and laundry was swirled
around with a stick.

The modern equivalent of that
is the agitator washing machine,

with a rod in the middle.

In Japan, meanwhile,
impeller washing machines are common.

A rotating device at the bottom of
the drum creates a strong flow of water.

This echoes the old practice
in Japan of washing clothes in a river.

Japanese washing machines
recreate that tradition.

Japanese washing machines
are now among the most

technologically advanced in the world.

Hello.

Something tells me you
must be Fujiyama-san.

Yes, I'm Fujiyama. Hello!

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

Our guest is Fujiyama Tetsuhito,
a household appliance expert.

He professionally reviews them,

describing their functionality,
ease of use, and even shortcomings.

First, he takes us to
a major electronics store.

Not all that long ago,
we bought a new washing machine.

And you come to these big shops,

and there is so many different types.

Just navigating your way through
this jungle of machines takes forever.

Don't worry, I'll be your guide.

In Japan, we have top-loaders.

Yep.

Nationwide, they account for
70 percent of all washing machines.

- That many?
- Yes.

So let's say you've made up your mind.
You're going to go for a top-loader.

There are all these different types,
so how are you going to choose?

There are lots of functions.

You should look for
the ones that suit you.

OK.

Shall we look at some examples?

Yep.

First...this one.

Ultrafine bubbles.

What's that?

Let me explain.

Detergents produce foam
that gets the laundry clean.

But this machine produces
exceptionally small bubbles.

These tiny nano-bubbles
can get rid of dirt or oil

lurking deep in the fibers.

You know how a white shirt
will go yellow-ish

if you don't use it for a while?

I don't wear very many white shirts,

but I know what you're
talking about, yeah.

This function helps to keep shirts white.

Ultrafine bubbles get right between
fibers to remove dirt and grease.

So a white shirt will not turn yellow,
even if it's set aside for a year.

This technique was developed in Japan.

And Japanese machines have
various other unique functions.

Like?

A “bathwater” feature, for example.

You probably won't see this anywhere else.

In Japan, a bather gets clean
outside the bathtub,

then simply soaks in the bathwater,
which stays clean.

The bathwater feature lets
you re-use that water.

Top-loading machines use
70 to 80 liters of water.

Quite a lot!

But that's roughly how much
you need to fill a Japanese bathtub.

This feature echoes when
people used to conserve water

by pouring bathwater into
early washing machines.

OK.

So these new machines
inherit that tradition.

Front-loaders are
a popular choice worldwide.

They too feature various
Japanese innovations.

These ones incorporate AI technology.

They weigh the laundry you put inside.

Right.

They automatically add detergent.

Then they detect how dirty the laundry is,

and adjust the washing time.

How do they sense how dirty
or not the clothes are?

They measure the water's transparency.

And then...let's say the dirt is stubborn.

It isn't washing away,
and the water isn't turning clear.

The machines will add more time,
and keep washing.

They're really smart.

The machines can be
connected to your phone.

That way you can check on progress
and see when the laundry will be done.

Japanese front-loaders take care of
everything from washing to drying.

The highlights include a special feature
that makes the laundry itself look great.

With a regular front-loader,
shirts end up with lots of wrinkles.

Yeah, of course.

With these machines, they look ironed.

And how do they do that?

By applying a large volume of air.

That's how they do it.

Imagine pulling your wet clothes
taut with your bare hands.

That's what the machine can do.

Moving on... some clothes are waterproof.

Skiwear, and so on.

Oh, yes.

Eventually, they stop repelling water.

It starts to soak in.

Right.

The ability to repel water
is called “the lotus effect.”

A lotus leaf is covered
in countless protrusions.

Water cannot seep in.

Droplets just roll off the surface.

With water-repellent clothing,
tiny hairs function in the same way,

but their condition
deteriorates over time.

This washing machine restores
the water-repellent qualities

of the clothing's surface.

Do you know how it does that?

Well, it heats the clothes
at a certain temperature.

The hairs are restored
to their former position,

and once again they can repel water.

That's how it works.

We asked a salesperson which
features are in demand in Japan.

This automatic input
system is quite popular.

You fill the containers with
detergent and fabric softener.

Then the machine itself decides
how much to use,

depending on the amount of laundry.

Around the world,

the history of laundry is as long
as the history of clothing itself.

In Japan, in the centuries
before detergent,

clothes were mainly washed
by hand, in a river.

In the 8th century,

people began using bean pods
and berries as a rudimentary detergent.

These ingredients generated foam
that had a cleaning effect.

In the 16th century,
soap arrived on ships from Portugal.

It was a luxury commodity, though,
available only to the ruling elite.

Most people back then were washing
their clothes using plant extracts, lye,

and the water left over from washing rice.

In modern times, washing machines
evolved quickly in the West.

They made a significant impact
on everyday routines.

In 1908, the world's first electric
washing machine was launched in the USA.

Here it is.

Fourteen years later,
it was imported to Japan.

Its advantages were noted
and research began.

In 1930, Japan's first electric
washing machine went on sale.

But it cost the equivalent of six
months' wages for an office worker.

It was far too expensive for most people.

In the West, laundry habits
were changing rapidly.

But in Japan, most people still
washed clothes by hand,

using a washboard and a tub of water.

That was hard work.

It wasn't until the 1950s

that Japanese companies began
focusing in earnest on electric models.

They tried to outdo each other,
and competition was fierce.

Prices dropped dramatically and more
people could now afford a washing machine.

The hard work of washing clothes by hand

finally started to become
a thing of the past.

Rectangular machines were
both effective and compact,

perfect for Japan's relatively
small homes.

They were a huge hit.

The washing machine joined
the television and the refrigerator

in a trio of must-have household
items for the whole nation.

To find out how modern Japanese
washing machines are made,

we're off to a state-of-the-art factory.

Let's dive into the drum!

These factory assembly lines are really
fascinating to watch, aren't they?

Yeah.

So this is the drum from the front-loading
washing machine, yeah?

Right. It's the drum.

They're actually made over there.

Shall we have a look?

Sure.

Here comes a drum.

The surface is flat, right?

It's then pressed to generate
a diamond pattern.

Yeah!

You see it?

That strengthens the drum,

and makes the washing
process much more effective.

Why does the diamond pattern
make the washing more effective?

It rubs against the laundry.

Oh, OK.

Many people living in Japanese
apartments and condominiums

strive to be good neighbors.

And noise can be a source of complaints.

This is the base of the machine.

Oh right, OK.

In Japan, many washing machines
are used in apartment blocks.

They need to operate quietly.

And so they're equipped
with a suspension system.

Like in a car.

Oh that's what these things are?

So when it's doing the spin
drying and it shakes a lot,

that's where these things kick in?

The drum we saw earlier is attached here.

It hangs down on two springs.

It's just like a car's suspension.

It's the same idea as a shock absorber.

Wow.

The factory showroom

traces the evolution of Japanese
washing machines over the years.

Let's start with this one.

Wow. A real antique.

It really is!

Oh wow.

It's a washing machine from 1951.

You put in your laundry,
and a liquid detergent.

Then the central agitator turns
back and forth to wash your clothes.

OK.

At the time, it cost 53,000 yen.

In today's terms, that would
be around a million yen.

Whoa.

OK, so you'd have to work several months

in order to be able to buy
one of these back in 1951.

Which was when I was born.

OK.

Here's the next phase.

The first washing machine I can remember

having in our family
was one pretty much like this.

You can turn this handle to squeeze
the laundry through these rollers.

Oh, they come out the side?

Oh OK, so that's actually more
advanced than the one we had.

Next, a more developed model.

This is 1970s.

There's a part for washing,
and a part for spinning.

Oh, the spin dryers! OK.

It's a twin-tub washer.

So you can be washing on this side and
spinning on this side at the same time.

So if you need to do multiple
washes during the day...

Now, let's move on to
a later washing machine.

This one is from the 1980s.

The two functions have been combined.

You can wash and spin-dry your
clothes in the same compartment.

You adjust it using this dial.

You can select what you're washing.

Oh, I see. Blouses and sweaters.

Gloves and socks.

Wow, it's almost like working
a radio, in fact. Wow.

So this is the 1980s, and ten years on,
we're getting...ah, this is looking...

When we get to this stage,

we start to see digital displays,
with lights for different settings.

OK.

At that time, the “fuzzy”
setting was quite popular.

Yeah. I never understood “fuzzy.”

It's kind of a “whatever” setting.

Sensors would identify different
stains and adjust accordingly.

AI, if you like.

OK.

I don't think people were talking about AI
yet in the 1990s perhaps, but OK. Yup.

Next...this one.

It's from the 2000s.

A washing machine,
combined with a dryer that generates heat.

This was the world's
first top-loading washer-dryer.

Ah, yeah.

In the 2000s we finally get to this. OK.

When you look back,
starting from the 1950s,

the evolution of these machines
is really quite remarkable, isn’t it?

And these days,

most Japanese people do their washing
almost every day, I would say.

Japan can be hot and humid. Very sweaty.

Ah, in the summer, yes, definitely.

Clothing can feel very uncomfortable.

And it doesn't smell nice.

So we do a lot of laundry.

Also, a lot of people suffer
from pollen allergies.

In the 1950s, huge numbers
of Japanese cedars were planted.

It's said that in Japan, around 30 million
people are allergic to the pollen.

It's a serious problem.

Pollen gets into your clothes and it can
disperse through the rooms of your home.

So soon after they get home,
many people wash their clothes.

It's interesting. I mean, there's nobody
in our family has pollen allergies,

so that's something
I just hadn't thought of.

Of course, if you have that problem,
and millions of people in Japan do,

then it's a serious thing
you have to deal with.

Here's one more factor.

There's a cultural aspect
to washing in Japan.

Bad behavior is seen
as something that sticks to you.

It's like dirt.

An unclean body is regarded as

inappropriate if you intend to pray
at a shrine and so on.

There's a long tradition in Japan
of spiritual and physical cleansing,

in many forms.

I think that custom led to the tendency
in Japan to wash clothes frequently.

Oh, right, OK.

Plus One

Hello everyone, and welcome to Plus One.

I'm Kyle Card.

When one thinks of washing machines,
clothing often comes to mind.

But here in Japan,

they've invented a very special
washing machine that washes...people?!

Let's go check it out.

- Hello.
- Hello.

How do you do?

I'm great, and yourself? I'm Kyle.

I've heard that you have
a washing machine for people here.

- Is that correct?
- Yes.

Please, take a look.

All right. Thank you.

The human washing machine.

This is the human washing machine?

Yes.

Wow. Looks like something out
of a science fiction movie.

This is actually a mock-up
for display purposes.

Development is still under way.

The completed device will be showcased
in 2025 at the World Expo in Osaka.

I can have a seat? OK.

It's like a spaceship.

You get inside,

shut the door,

and it fills with fine bubbles.

- Fine bubbles?
- Yes.

From head to toe, it cleans you.

It's entirely automatic.

Really?

At the same time,
it assesses your condition using AI.

It can do all of that by just
sitting in this washing machine?

Wow.

And images will be displayed
on the screens around you.

You don't simply get clean,
it's also mentally refreshing.

So just by sitting in this machine I can
cleanse my body, heart, and mind?

Yes.

The device has many eco-friendly,
high-tech features.

Think of this as a bath.

OK.

It looks like you're blowing in a mist.

These are actually microbubbles.

Microbubbles. OK.

Microbubbles have a diameter
of no more than 0.1 millimeters.

They can remove dirt
from pores in the skin.

No soap is required.

A permanent marker.

Oh, permanent marker? OK.

Put out your hand.

No! Oh!

Keep your fist closed.

OK, this worries me.

Let's begin.

Kyle's hand is washed with
microbubbles for 20 seconds.

Without soap, yeah. Wow.

Done.

Well, I have to say,
with just a little bit of a water rinse,

it...the majority has gone away.

That's very impressive. Wow.

So I have to ask, why did you decide
to create a washing machine for people?

Well, in 1970,
a World Expo was held in Osaka.

And one of the exhibits was
in fact a human washing machine.

I was in my fourth year
at elementary school.

I thought, “The future is amazing!
A human washing machine!”

That thought has stayed with
me ever since. My whole life.

And now, 55 years later,

another World Expo
is scheduled to take place in Osaka.

So I decided to mark the occasion with
a futuristic human washing machine.

That's the story.

Ah, that's wonderful to hear.

Something you experienced
when you were young,

and you wanted to update it
for the future, right?

OK

The psychological aspect of the machine
is being studied at Osaka University.

Kyle is going to experience it first-hand.

Just this way.

All right.

Is the water warm enough?

Yeah. Nice temp.

OK, let's turn it on.

OK.

Microbubbles begin filling the tub.

I've turned into nice white soup here.

It's hard to believe these are all
microbubbles turning the water white.

This is amazing.

It feels a bit tingly too.

So what is this video I'm watching here?

In this video,
you're moving through a forest.

Our software is keeping track of
your autonomic nervous system.

In the future,

AI will use that data to select
different visuals, sounds, and vibrations.

All tailored to the individual user.

Ah, so it just takes all
of your personal data,

and it just kind of like creates you
own personalized experience, essentially.

So where are you getting
all of this data from?

It's collected through
the seat you're sitting on.

So what is my data showing right now?

Your heart rate is currently
about 70 to 80 beats per minute,

so you're very relaxed.

The system uses your pulse
to assess stress and fatigue,

then presents an appropriate video.

And this video here is like
going through a forest.

I can only imagine, like,
what this going to grow into with AI.

And just have that personalized
relaxation experience.

Like, I have so much hope and excitement
for the future of this technology.

This is just...if this is this relaxing
now, I can't wait for the future.

Plus One

As we've seen with these washing machines,

Japanese products tend to come
with all kinds of different features.

And I think most Japanese consumers
just take them for granted,

which consumers in other countries
perhaps wouldn't to a great extent.

I wonder how much demand there is
for these products outside Japan.

In China, the Philippines,
the Middle East, and so on,

models exported from Japan are available.

But so are other Japanese
models made locally.

Oh so they're...the models are
different from the domestic ones?

They're different
from those sold in Japan.

For example, in India,
they eat a lot of curry.

Turmeric stains are really
difficult to remove.

So Indian washing machines
have a function just for that.

They put these features in just for India?

They do.

Whoa.

Also, in the Middle East, many women
wear a garment called an abaya.

It's made from very thin fabric, and often
features a stylish, decorative hem.

In a washing machine,
abayas are very easily damaged.

So there's a special mode
that emulates a gentle handwash.

Wow. I had no idea that

they're thinking up all
these features for different countries.

Interesting.

Looking at all these models
through the years,

every time a new one comes out,

it's kind of state-of-the-art
for its time.

Today, we've seen washing machines
with all sorts of different features.

They can make clothing
water repellent again.

Stylish garments that you'd previously
take to the dry cleaner's

can now be washed at home.

That's true, yes.

One characteristic of Japanese
washing machines is attention to detail.

I think the devices produced here can
compete with anything made anywhere else.

I'm sure that, eventually,

we'll reach the point where
the laundry comes out folded!

Well I'm sure if it did that there would
be plenty of people that would welcome it.

Thank you very much.

It was my pleasure.