The development of the mechanical parts including the washing mechanism for the “Personal Bottle Washer,” a new product category that the company is trying to launch, is nearing its completion. The design phase comes next. Keito Kotani in the New Business Development Office began his struggle for the design.

In his previous department, Kotani had designed relatively small appliances for indoor use, but this time he has to face the difficult task of creating a large, freestanding product for outdoor use. Several concepts, such as a circular dome-shaped design, were considered and dismissed. “It’s not interesting,” muttered Hiroshi Kumagai, who joined the project as a senior advisor after retiring. A former head of the Legal and Intellectual Property Department, Kumagai had long been involved in product design and development and even worked at a bottle production factory in Thailand. With such experienced advice from Kumagai, the design was set in motion. As simplicity is pursued, they are not going for something cool; rather they show individuality and leave Zojirushi’s mark. The key is to be interesting.

　Based on a 3DCAD (three-dimensional computer-aided design), a full-size prototype was made using cardboard. The current design was made after thorough consideration of the structure and usability. “During the trial-and-error process, there was a moment when something like an electric kettle (a vacuum bottle) came to my mind, and I felt that it was somehow very Zojirushi-like, so I secretly called it ‘The Vacuum Bottle Fairy’,” Kotani recounts.

The concept he should aim for became clear. Furthermore, Iwamoto’s comment “Why not try using wood for the side panels?” led to a collaboration with the “Society for Living with Yoshino” in Nara Prefecture, a participant in the Co-Design Challenge, and the team began considering to use wood from Yoshino. The team is now examining whether the panels can withstand outdoor use during the six months of the Expo.

　The washing machines are scheduled to be installed in 10 locations next to the water dispensers at the Expo site. Since these machines are still unfamiliar to the public, it is important that people realize what they are and use them. For this reason, the company is considering installing a sign panel with the words “Personal Bottle Washing Station” behind the washing machines so that they can be recognized from afar.

The liquid crystal display that explains how to use the product is also crucial since it is a new product no one has ever used before. During a short schedule, the team is under pressure to quickly come up with ideas to make the display both engaging for kids and easy for foreigners to understand.

　“As a manufacturer of personal bottles, we don’t want people to just get satisfied with the purchase of them,” said Iwamoto, Head of the New Business Development Office, explaining their goal. “We wish to assume accountability for making sure that people can continue to use them comfortably. The washing machine is part of our effort in creating that environment.” In addition to being a unique event, the Expo is a place for grand demonstration experiments. They envision a society where personal bottles are the standard. Although they have high hurdles to overcome, they will strive with their sights set on the future.