Fujiiryoki massage chair was born from the garbage mountain. Shortly after the war, founder Nobuo Fujimoto gathered materials such as wood, balls and chains and made prototypes, and the first massage chair was born in 1954.
For more informationA model that four massage balls massage the shoulders and waist at the same time appears. A-1 is a special product for kneading. This model was able to be freely adjusted to the desired massage position to shoulder, back, waist by moving the massage balls up and down while operating the handle on the right side of the chair. The selling price at that time was 80,000 yen.
(Current value of 80,000 yen is about $30K.)
A model that four massage balls massage the shoulders and waist at the same time appears. A-1 is a special product for kneading. This model was able to be freely adjusted to the desired massage position to shoulder, back, waist by moving the massage balls up and down while operating the handle on the right side of the chair. The selling price at that time was 80,000 yen.
(Current value of 80,000 yen is about $30K.)
C-3 is specialized for tapping. It is very similar to A-1 but there is a difference in the shape of the massage balls. There were three protrusions on the tip of the massage balls to give more comfortable massage experience. The company were particular about the shape of the massage balls according to each massage movement of tapping, kneading.
The internal structure has been evolved so that “kneading” and “tapping” can be changed with a single switch. The function of the massage chair has evolved, such as the strength can be freely adjusted, and it has been finished to a design that does not feel uncomfortable when it is placed in a guest room as home use.
A “roller-type” massage chair that massages both sides of the spine while massage ball is rolling was born. The technology that could only be used for “knead” and “tap” has dramatically grown. In addition, this model has also made it real to recline the backrest freely.
Fujiiryoki installed massage function for calf and thigh first and greatly contributes to the promotion of blood circulation in the legs. The world’s first massage chair equipped with only air bags became popular because of its soft and comfortable feeling.
A new-inspired massage chair that combines a powerful massage balls with a gentle knead feeling of air. A new breeze blew into the market, where there were only models exclusively for massage balls or Air. It became a concept model that determined the trend of the 21st century.
It is equipped with many innovative functions such as the industry’s first innovative 3D point navigation system that detects each person’s back muscle line and automatically selects the optimal massage program. It is innovative massage chair that machine adapts the massage to people.
The design with moss green fabric and elegant soft form, and the industry’s first “Foot stretch”, “3D massage”, Cross press method” that are close to human hand massage have been accepted by many customers.
“AS-878” won the Good Design Special Award for its Art Deco design. In addition to improving functions, commitment to design has become indispensable for the development of massage chairs.
The range of massage has expanded significantly from this period. The “CYBER-RELAX AS-800” series, which can massage the soles of the feet and shoulders (range from the shoulder to the upper arm), won the “Good Design Award” this year.
Newly designed massaging balls unit “Kiwami Mecha” is installed for the first time. The shape of the arm of the kneading ball and the pitch of the drive gear have been improved, and the maximum protrusion of the massaging balls has been increased by 1.3 times compared to the previous model. This was driven by a high-precision, high-power motor, realizing deep and powerful stimulation and made movements approaching human hands real.
Certified as Mechanical Engineering Heritage by The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
1954 World first mass-produced massage chair was born in Osaka, Japan.
2014 Designated officially as "Mechanical Engineering Heritage"
FUJIIRYOKI was founded in 1954. Late Nobuo Fujimoto who was the founder and opened "Fujiiryoki Workshop" in Hannamancho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City and this was the beginning. At that time, many Japanese people had gone to public baths in the town. Fujimoto who was selling scrub brush to wash tiles in public baths thought whether he could do something in the dressing room where people gather and relax for healing the fatigue of the day and he started to develop massage chair.
Early prototypes were made from "mountain of garbage". After trying to assemble from the materials such as woods, baseball softballs, bicycle chains, car handlles many times, the world first mass-produced massage chair "the first machine, FUJIIRYOKI Automatic Massage Machine" was finally completed in 1954.
Only a "knead" massage function was equipped and it is a simple mechanism in which the massage balls move up and down by turning the handle that is placed on the side. It broke down the traditonal idea of "tapping, kneading by human hands or tools" and became revolutionary product like "the machine massage by just sitting on the chair."
Massage chairs have become popular from public baths, hot-spring inn to home and the world to keep supporting people's health.
The first machine is the origin of massage chair.
The first massage chair of FUJIIRYOKI is a symbolic presence as a roots of a massage chair, and it was certified as "Machinery Heritage No. 68" as being a valuable cultural heritage with historical significance in August 7, 2014.
Certification of Mechanical Engineering Heritage is that the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers certify it as "Mechanical Engineering Heritage" which has historical significance in terms of mechanical engineering in Japan. We will save the historical machine technology heritage carefully for the purpose of being trasmitted to the next generation as cultural heritage.
Website: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers "Mechanical Engineering Heritage"Dimension | W710 x L870 x H1,300(mm) |
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Weight | 64kg |
Movement | Kneading |
Outer materials | Wood |
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Materials of knead balls | Urethan |
Current storage location | Osaka factory of FUJIIRYOKI(non-disclosure) |