History of INADA           > Watch Video

Founded in 1962 in Osaka, Japan, Family Inada is the world’s leading manufacturer of automatic massage chairs. The company was founded by Nichimu Inada who invented the first automatic shiatsu massage chair.

Family Inada not only created the category, but has remained far ahead of competitors through a relentless commitment to innovation and product development, from the 1960s up to this day. The company’s technology is developed at its rather secretive R&D facility located at its headquarters in Osaka. The main factory is located in Nawa, a small town located in the Tottori prefecture of Japan. Ever committed to the most exacting standards of craftsmanship and precise engineering, the Inada factory is an exemplary of Japanese quality and reliability.

I.1 and H.9 Massage Chairs

In 2001 Inada released the i.1 and the H.9 massage chairs. The H.9, which uses infrared sensors to profile a user’s body to determine the location of acupressure points, was a TIME Magazine Invention of the Year and became a bestseller in Japan. The New York Times stated at the time, “The Inada massage chair … makes the La-Z-Boy seem lazy indeed.”

50 Years of Innovation

1962 First Automatic Massage Chair
1973 First Choice of Firm or Soft Touch Kneading
1979 First Spinal Roller
1988 First Roller Massage with Accupressure Focus
1996 First Quad Roller Massage with Body Alignment
1998 First Air Cell Massage
2000 First Infrared Body Scan
2003 First Full-Body, Auto-Adaptive Massage
2006 First Joystick-Controlled Massage
2008 First Fully Comprehensive Massage Chair (Sogno DreamWave)
2009 First Posture-Correction Chair

Sogno DreamWave Massage Chair

In 2008 Inada released the Sogno DreamWave, designed by renowned product designer Toshiyuki Kita. The Sogno DreamWave received 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Honors and was a 2009 American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) Pinnacle Award finalist. In 2010, Inada received two additional CES Innovations Honors for the Inada CUBE in the Home Appliance Category and the Doctor’s Choice massage chair in the Health and Wellness Category.

Inada Legendary Quality

Even as Inada continues to lead all other manufacturers in awards and recognition, the innovation never stops. The legendary Inada quality control and product performance continues, providing thousands of people relief from pain and stress, as well as years of relaxation that no other chair can provide.

INADA HISTORY TIMELINE:

In 1962, Inada invented the world’s first automatic massage chair. In the next 47 years, Inada went on to pioneer virtually every major massage innovation to reach the market, including the first spinal roller, the first use of air cells for massage, and the first infrared pressure point detection system.