Six Japanese Products to Watch at CES 2025

CES 2025, one of the world’s largest technology events, kicks off on January 7 in Las Vegas. As always, the event will gather leading companies and startups from around the globe, and showcase cutting-edge technologies and products across various fields, including AI, IoT, robotics, automotive technology, healthcare, and smart homes.

Among the many innovative products exhibited at CES, the event grants the “Innovation Awards” to those who stand out for their design, functionality, technological advancement, and societal impact. Winning this award is a significant indicator of recognition within and beyond the industry.

Japanese Products Garnering Global Acclaim

Japanese companies’ innovative technologies and designs have consistently received high praise at CES, thanks to their precision engineering, unique creativity, and original ideas. This year, Japan’s contributions once again stand out. Here are six noteworthy Japanese products preselected for the CES Innovation Awards.

Micro e-Mobility Concept by Suzuki

Image credit: Suzuki

Suzuki’s versatile micro e-Mobility platform leverages the company’s expertise in electric wheelchair technology to create a base for various robotic applications. By combining this platform with technologies like autonomous driving and AI, Suzuki aims to address challenges across diverse fields in partnership with other companies.

Technology
By integrating autonomous driving and AI technology, precise and flexible movement is achieved, enhancing adaptability in diverse environments.

Design
Featuring a compact and robust design. The modern appearance, utilizing a yellow and black contrast, not only improves visibility but also balances functionality with style.

Innovation
In collaboration with partner companies, it uses robotics to address challenges in logistics, agriculture, disaster response, and more. It aims to go beyond being a mere transportation tool, presenting a platform for a multi-purpose, sustainable society and setting a new standard in robotics.

Mixed Reality Makeup – Zero-Minute Try-On Studio by Kose

Image credit: Kose

Kose, the cosmetics brand, presents Mixed Reality Makeup, a system offering a revolutionary makeup trial experience based on high-speed projection mapping. It projects realistic makeup directly onto a user’s face and tracks facial movements, enabling users to experiment with countless makeup designs in real time. This system enhances the speed, confidence, and fun of choosing makeup compared to traditional or AR-based methods.

Technology
Adopting high-speed projection mapping technology, it directly projects makeup onto faces in real time, precisely following facial movements to provide an immersive experience.

Design
A stylish, intuitive interface allows for simple and enjoyable operation. The design integrates vibrant visuals and a modern aesthetic to cater to a broad audience.

Innovation
It provides a system for trying countless makeup designs in a real-world 3D space. It surpasses conventional try-on methods and AR makeup filters, establishing a new standard for quick and enjoyable decision-making.

Bio Leg

Image credit: Bio Leg

Bio Leg by BionicM, a Japanese startup, introduces an electrically powered prosthetic knee designed to aid individuals who have lost a leg. Using electric assist technology reduces physical strain and ensures smoother walking experiences. The prosthetic’s bionic muscle technology enables effortless transitions across various terrains and postures, promoting balance with a natural silhouette.

Technology
Combines an electric motor with multiple sensors to support movement, reduce discomfort, and improve mobility.

Design
Highlighting the natural appearance of a human knee, the design incorporates calf muscle contours and black carbon material, supporting self-expression.

Innovation
Mimics the characteristics of human knee movements, offering both flexibility and strength. It transforms from a simple aid into a symbol of confidence and style.

Sony XR Head-Mounted Display SRH-S1

Image credit: Sony

Sony’s high-end XR head-mounted display competes with products from Meta and Apple, offering impressive features:

• Support for diverse XR content needs.
• Vivid 4K visuals powered by micro-OLED panels.
• Video see-through functionality for mixed reality creation.
• Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon® XR2+ Gen 2 Platform.
• Comfort and stability for extended use due to optimized weight distribution and materials.
• A flip-up design for seamless switching between physical and virtual spaces.

Technology
Provides ultra-high-definition immersive experiences with an XR headset offering 4K resolution per eye and a dedicated controller optimized for interacting with 3D objects.

Design
Maximizes user convenience with ergonomic design for comfort and a modern appearance.

Innovation
Introduces a new XR interface enabling precise interaction with 3D objects, setting a new standard in extended reality technology.

Qolo Rehabilitation

Image credit: Qolo

Developed by Qolo, a hardware startup from Tsukuba, this rehabilitation device is a world-first standing assist system designed for patients with lower limb disabilities. It minimizes therapist intervention while preventing falls and providing quantitative treatment data. The compact, portable device supports dynamic standing exercises critical for early training of severely disabled patients. Its unique non-powered mechanism allows real-time data collection and trend analysis.

Technology
Equipped with built-in sensors and a tablet for data visualization, it prevents falls and quantitatively tracks treatment progress. Utilizing a non-powered mechanism, it collects and analyzes data in real time, improving treatment efficiency.

Design
Compact and portable, it is designed for use in rehabilitation rooms, patient rooms, and lounges. Its simple yet functional design ensures ease of use for both patients and medical professionals.

Innovation
As the world’s first standing support device for lower limb disability patients, it minimizes therapist intervention while supporting dynamic standing exercises. Usable from the early stages of rehabilitation, it accelerates patient recovery and enhances the quality of treatment, setting a new standard in therapy.

Romi by Mixi

Image credit: Mixi

Romi, a palm-sized emotional support AI robot by Mixi, offers complex real-time conversational capabilities. The next-generation model can seamlessly interject comments during conversations based on what it hears, past dialogue history, and observed surroundings. Enhanced with deep learning, Romi has evolved to be more “human-like,” addressing loneliness and anxiety. A cloud-based system integrates its voice, physical movements, and facial expressions (displayed on an LCD), creating a natural and engaging conversation experience.

Technology
Processes auditory inputs, history, and visual information during conversations to generate appropriate comments instantly. Cloud-based integration of voice, motion, and facial expressions ensures natural communication in face-to-face interactions.

Design
Adopts a compact, palm-sized design with a friendly, rounded shape. The LCD display features adorable “expressions,” enhancing emotional connections with users. Its modern, sleek design blends seamlessly into homes or workplaces.

Innovation
As an emotional support device to alleviate loneliness and anxiety, it has gained widespread adoption in Japan. With enhanced responsiveness and emotional expression compared to previous models, it supports users’ mental well-being through conversation, offering a new value in AI robots for everyday life.

At CES 2025, these six Japanese innovations highlight the country’s blend of creativity and cutting-edge technology, reinforcing its position as a global leader in technological advancement.