Toshiba Lifestyle Hosts New Product Launch Event with Yo Oizumi and Yuka

Toshiba Lifestyle held a new home appliance product launch event on August 21 at Ebisu Garden Place in Tokyo, showcasing its smart robot cleaner, refrigerator-freezer, and drum-type washer-dryer. Guest stars included actor Yo Oizumi and actress/talent Yuka, who introduced the new products and participated in a talk session.

Yuka (left) and Oizumi

 

	 
Presentation by President Ishiwata	 

First, Toshiba Lifestyle President Toshiro Ishiwata presented the company's business and product strategy. He stated that the company, established this April, is committed to providing new lifestyles through advanced products. He introduced Toshiba's 2014 communication theme: "New things. New experiences. by 'lifenology'." He emphasized that "lifenology" is a fusion of "life" and "technology," and that the company approaches product development with the mindset of delivering not just products, but also "things" like "fun" and "excitement" to the lives that lie beyond the products.

Next, representatives explained the new products. The smart robot cleaner "TORNEO ROBO," launching in early September, pursues automation and practicality. It automatically sucks up debris collected by the main unit into its charging base, eliminating the need for trash disposal for about a month. A camera on the cleaner also allows users to check room conditions remotely via smartphone.
The freezer-refrigerator launching in October successfully increases interior volume without widening the unit by using technology to reduce wall thickness. Compared to the company's 685mm-wide model from 10 years ago, it offers a full 142 liters more capacity at the same width while also achieving energy-saving performance.
The drum-type washer-dryer, scheduled for release in October, features the "Magic Drum," a wash tub designed to resist dirt buildup. It also includes an automatic tub cleaning function.

	 
Product manager explaining the new products	 	 	 	 

 

Next, Mr. Oizumi and Ms. Yuka, newly appointed as advertising characters, made an appearance. As a married couple, they will appear in the new "Smart Robot Cleaner" commercial airing from August 31st, as well as on TV, in newspapers, and magazines.
Mr. Oizumi and Ms. Yuka both agreed the commercial shoot was "fun." Mr. Oizumi revealed, "Actually, I had hurt my back." He shared a behind-the-scenes story: "Toshiba was really kind. For the scene where I carried the laundry basket, they attached wires to the basket. It was a bit of a hassle, though." The two reportedly encountered the new product on set and were constantly amazed by its latest features.

 

Later, a talk session was held with President Ishiwata joining them in front of the new products.
President Ishiwata, who mentioned being on a single assignment, personally praised the smart robot cleaner as "really convenient." Mr. Oizumi got the audience excited by mimicking the smart robot cleaner's movements, wiggling his hips. Regarding the built-in camera, Mr. Oizumi quipped, "It can scan the whole room 360 degrees—perfect for checking if your wife or husband is cheating!" President Ishiwata followed up, "We designed it with security in mind. It can check if doors are locked."

  Yuka and Oizumi were delighted with the refrigerator, saying, "It holds enough so you don't have to keep buying more when you run out," and "It fits lots of souvenirs from Hokkaido." They discovered the feature during the commercial shoot: holding your hand over it makes the switch light up and appear, and a light touch opens the door. "If we hadn't found it, no one would have known," they exclaimed excitedly.

    For the drum-type washer-dryer, they demonstrated the "Magic Drum." Oizumi drew a shared umbrella with Yuka on a stainless steel plate treated like the Magic Drum. When Yuka sprayed water on it, the drawing peeled off instantly. Yuka was delighted, while Oizumi looked dejected.

 

Finally, President Ishiwata concluded by thanking the two: "Seeing you understand and promote Toshiba products to this extent, I believe the product planners and factory staff here today are moved to tears with joy."