To buy or not to buy - that is the question!
Most people who are loyal to everything “American made” would steer away from using foreign products, including massage chairs.
But is the place of production a factor that you should take in consideration?
Yes! I think you do...
And I’ve only benefited from it.
I’ve tried many Japanese massage chair models and made a shocking realization many models are not even made in Japan but in China!
Why should you care?
Quality!
The latest innovation
#1 Osaki OS-4D JP Pro Premium
This chair provides you with 28 different massage techniques to choose from
✔ Absolute Comfort
✔ Entirely Customizable
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#2 Inada Dreamwave
(Superior Engineering and Top Quality Materials)
This chair offers you the exclusive Dreamwave Function.
✔ Noise-Reduction
✔ Ultimate Massage
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#3 Luraco iRobotics 7 Chair (USA made- BONUS)
(Customizable Massages According to Your Preference)
High-end massage chair that provides a great range of shiatsu massages with customizable intensities.
✔ FDA Approved
✔ Best Warranty
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So, in this guide, I’m bringing you 3 of my favorite massage chairs from The Land of the Rising Sun and a dash bit extra with a review of Luraco iRobotics 7 which is an All-American product.
So, let's dive in...
Before you start (and if you interested) read this guide here for full overview of the overall state of the industry and review of world's best massage chairs.
3 Best Selling Japanese Massage Chairs
#1 Osaki OS-4D JP Pro Premium
The Osaki brand is a project under the Titan World LLC and is one of the leading suppliers of various fitness and massage equipment.
Unlike a few other Osaki models that are manufactured and assembled in China, the Osaki OS-4D JD Pro Premium (here is the full review) is entirely formulated and engineered in Japan.
It is made by Fujiiryoki Japan, or Fuji Medical, which is a trusted Japanese massage chair brand, and is equal in every way to the bestselling Fuji Medical model in Japan: the EC-3900.
Standout Features
- This model features the famous Kiwami Mecha 4D Kneading Ball System with completely customizable levels of intensity.
- It includes an extensive structure of 44 airbags that delivers thorough compression air massage to your head and neck, hands and arms, buttocks, waist, calves, and feet.
- The pre-programmed massage settings come with 7 different intensity levels.
- The manual mode allows you to avail 12 different levels of intensity settings for zonal massages such as your neck, thigh/glutes, legs, and super kneading (tapping plus kneading) amongst others.
- The chair offers 10 different auto programs to choose from and a total of 28 different kneading techniques for you.
Benefits
This model presents the Kiwami Mecha L-Track 4D Kneading Ball System that is the latest innovation in the field of massage chair features.
This not only allows you to control the speed and intensity of the massages, but it enables the massage heads on the rollers to alternately move in and out depending on the type of massage you have picked.
This alone provides you with 28 different massage techniques to choose from.
Some of these are shoulder blade, and upper shoulder press massages, and side knead amongst several others.
These massage rollers deliver intense massages to your spinal column down to your lower back and adjacent areas.
It helps to treat conditions like neuralgia and muscular strains or sprains anywhere in the back by providing the “kiwami kneading and tapping.”
The foot roller in this model comes with heating options and the airbags embedded with shiatsu balls, massage the pressure points from the calves to the soles.
Pros
- Advanced Kiwami Mecha 4D massage rollers
- Entirely customizable
- Designed for absolute comfort
Cons
- Expensive
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#2 Fujiiryoki EC-3800 Japanese Shiatsu Massage Chair
Fujiiryoki is one of the pioneering Japanese massage chair brands in the health equipment industry and was founded in 1954 in Japan.
It is known to employ top of the line materials and technology in the manufacturing process of all of its products.
And it’s no surprise why the EC-3800 is one of its top-selling massage chairs.
It is entirely designed, engineered and manufactured in Japan.
Standout Features
- This model presents the brand’s exclusive Kiwami Mecha 4D Knead Ball system which offers you 28 kiwami massage techniques.
- There are 4 different massage techniques available in this chair: kneading, tapping, kneading and tapping and shiatsu massage.
- It also includes 12 different intensities for each massage function.
- The chair has 44 airbags for a full body compression air massage with customizable intensities.
Benefits
This model too comes equipped with the powerful Kiwami Mecha 4D massage rollers that almost mimics the movements of the human hand.
It enables you to control the intensity and speed of the massages.
And, it efficiently hits all the required spots on your back.
The chair delivers the benefits of spot massages so that you can select the areas that need maximum massage and relief such as the neck and back, shoulders, hips, waist hands and feet.
You can select several types of Kiwami kneading and tapping, singularly or in combination, out of which the most intense option is probably the Kiwami deep tissue massage.
In combination, these massages help to sooth knotted nerves and veins and calm stiff muscles even in the areas that are difficult to reach.
It also has a stretching feature for the shoulders, calves, and feet that relieves the joints.
The airbag compression for the waist and hips help improve blood circulation in these parts.
Pros
- Kiwami Mecha 4D massage rollers come with 28 kneading features
- Innovative features like the ‘pulse mode.’
- The adjustable footrest that ensures spot massages
- Comfortably accommodates different height ranges
Cons
- No zero gravity or body scan feature
- Noisy airbag massage
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#3 Inada Dreamwave
Inada is one of the most trusted brands of therapeutic massage chairs in Japan that was founded in 1962.
Just like the brands features earlier, it employs only superior engineering and top quality materials in the making of its chairs.
Previously known as the Inada Sogno Dreamwave, the Inada Dreamwave is one of the most expensive premium massage chairs out there on the market.
Although a few parts of this chair are manufactured in China, there is no place for complaints when it comes to its features.
Standout Features
- This chair offers you the exclusive Dreamwave Function.
- It has infrared heating facilities for the back, seat, and lumbar region.
- It gives you full 3D back massages and allows you to alter the massage intensities.
- It consists of optical sensors that enable the automatic shiatsu point locator for targeting the shiatsu points on the user’s body.
- Additionally, it features unique functions like health care programs, deep-relaxation programs.
- It also includes deep shiatsu sole inserts for foot acupressure.
Benefits
Although it doesn’t have 4D rollers like the previous two models, the Inada Dreamwave does possess powerful 3D massage rollers that allow you to adjust their speed level.
These work efficiently on your back to release tension from blocked up muscles and improves blood circulation in these regions.
The shoulder airbag massage system in this chair is created by a special unit that is exclusive to this model.
It relaxes your shoulders and de-stresses the entire body.
The heat setting in this chair is located in the seat and lumbar region that effectively taps the therapeutic energy of the massages and rejuvenates the senses from within.
But, one of the best features of this chair is the DreamWave function, which on activation vibrates and rocks the seat from side to side in an 8-shaped motion.
This is known to give you the ultimate relaxed massage experience.
Moreover, the Youth Program allows children over 14 years of age to use this feature.
Pros
- Powerful 3D roller system
- Unique DreamWave feature unlike any
- Efficient noise-reduction protocol
Cons
- May feel a bit outdated compared to most other models
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OHCO M.8 Series (New Addition for 2021)
The OHCO M.8 is an electric massage chair that utilizes vibration technology to massage the body in a positive manner. The chair is adjustable, so you can purchase different types of massages like spinal, lumbar, and a combination massage. All you have to do is let the OHCO M.8 work its magic! The OHCO M.8 is extremely comfortable. The technology of the OHCO M.8 can be adjusted to provide different types of massage. The vibrational vibration technology works wonders on the body. I am pleased to find out that the OHCO M.8 comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. The OHCO M.8 comes with a folding base, which means no one will be lying on your back when you’re out of the chair. The patent-pending folding base features three articulation points so you can adjust the chair depending on the message type that you are receiving.
Bonus - Luraco iRobotics 7 Chair
Although this was supposed to be exclusively about massage chairs made in Japan, I decided to add one that is entirely manufactured and assembled in the USA, as a bonus point!
The Luraco iRobotics 7 is one of the high-end massage chairs that provides a great range of shiatsu massages with customizable intensities.
Even though they have some of their parts made in Taiwan, for the major part, it is designed, manufactured and put together in the States itself.
Standout Features
- It provides 3 zero-gravity seating positions and a 3D massage system for deep tissue penetrative massages.
- A swivel delivers the unique stretch function in this chair in the mid-body section.
- The chair offers full-body heating with 5 levels of adjustment and three levels of foot massage.
- It comes with inbuilt music players and speakers.
- The quality of noise reduction and cancellation technology in this makes it the quietest massage chair model out there.
Benefits
The 3D massage system provides deep tissue massages that relieve knotted and swollen veins and muscles in the back.
The full body scan locates all your problematic points and directs the massaging mechanism to hit these spots individually.
The zero-gravity feature in this chair achieves even body weight distribution and improves blood circulation.
This massage recliner offers a variety of pre-programmed settings for you to choose from.
You can also customize these massages according to your preference.
It also offers a special side-to-side motion pattern to relieve stiff and aching muscles.
The heat setting coupled with these massages helps to generate therapeutic energy for the body, mind, and senses.
And last but not least, it provides one of the best warranties to the customers: 5 years on parts and 3 years on labor.
Pros
- Hugely customizable with a wide range of features
- Acknowledged by the UL and FDA as a medical equipment
- Voice-control features.
- Comfortably accommodates a height of up to 6’7” and a maximum weight of 300 lbs
Cons
- Can be space-consuming and heavy
- Very expensive
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Can You Get a Prescription for a Massage Chair?
The secret to having a great day, the secret to having a better night’s sleep, the secret to being a better communicator, and the secret to weight loss… it’s all about the chair. Now, that might sound a bit corny, but it’s true. More and more research points to the power of a great massage chair. The key seems to be the “wellness” that comes from the constant movement. Massage therapists are able to be more effective when they work without the use of gravity. A massage chair can be the secret to experiencing a greater range of motion, and to reducing pain, and even stress, for most people.
For some people, though, there can be some challenges when it comes to getting a chair. Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. And one of the problems with massage chairs is that they are expensive. Massage chairs typically retail between $800 and $4,000. That can be more than many people are able to afford. But there is a way around that. A number of companies offer loaner chairs for those who need them. Many provide less expensive alternatives to premium chairs. It’s up to you to decide whether or not the loaner chair will be enough to make the investment worth it to you. But, if you are interested in learning more about the loaner chairs that are out there, read on.
Who Owns Ogawa?
Ogawa Corp. is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Mothers index as of the end of 2016. For reference, this is a full-cap index that includes companies with at least ¥1 trillion ($8 billion) in market capitalization, which makes it about one-third the size of the New York Stock Exchange’s largest index, the S&P 500. This fact alone is a remarkable achievement for a public company in Japan, and it provides an indication of how huge this business could be.
What can be seen in the chart above is a classic case of conservative management and a shareholder-friendly corporate structure. The company’s chairman and the president are Otoshi Ogawa, and he owns 39% of the firm’s stock. According to the 2015 annual report, the total number of shareholders is 498. This appears like a high number of shares, but it does not include the stock held by Ogawa Corp.’s employees, who own 100% of the company. Since all of this capital belongs to the management and shareholders, one could say that it is a classic closed-end corporation.
Where Are Kahuna Massage Chairs Made?
The most luxurious and highest-end massage chairs are made by Kahuna. There is a good reason that they are at the top of the pricing scale. These are the only massage chairs made in the world, so you know they're the best. The wait time for their service is a combination of 4-6 hours depending on which type of massage you choose.
The massage chair has a price tag of $33,000 which means you can’t actually get it for that price. There are other ways to get a similar price for the chair. VIP membership will cost you a good $100 a month. Alternatively, if you subscribe to the R.V. Magazine VIP network you'll get a monthly discount of $300. The entire massage chair purchase will cost you $650.
Conclusion
Japan is renowned for designing and creating high-quality massage chairs, but there is seldom space for disappointment regarding the results.
However, authentic Japanese chairs are more expensive than most others that are manufactured elsewhere.
In my opinion, the Osaki OS-4D Pro JP Premium certainly qualifies as one of the best Japanese massage chairs.
Also, the feature it provides justifies the price tag to a great extent.