Top 5 Wearable/Functional Apparel With Embedded Tech in Japan

In recent years, Japan has emerged as a global leader in wearable apparel embedded with advanced technology, transforming ordinary clothing into intelligent systems that monitor health, enhance performance, and redefine human–machine interaction. Unlike conventional wearables such as smartwatches and fitness bands, these innovations seamlessly integrate sensors and electronic components directly into fabrics, creating garments that are comfortable and highly functional. Spanning healthcare, sports, rehabilitation, and even virtual reality, this convergence of textiles and electronics reflects both Japan’s rich garment heritage and cutting-edge tech culture.

Ranking of Wearable/Functional Apparel With Embedded Tech

1. Xenoma e-skin Smart Apparel
2. Mitsufuji hamon® Wearable Vital Sensor Apparel
3. Xenoma e-skin EMStyle EMS Suit
4. Synesthesia Wear
5. Chikuma no SMAFA Smart Fan-Equipped Wear

1. Xenoma e-skin Smart Apparel

Source: Xenoma e-skin HEALTHCARE Homepage

Developed by Tokyo-based startup Xenoma, e-skin is widely regarded as one of Japan’s most advanced examples of smart apparel with fully embedded technology. First commercialized in the late 2010s, e-skin garments integrate stretchable circuits and multiple sensors directly into the fabric using Xenoma’s proprietary Printed Circuit Fabric technology. Unlike strap-based wearables, the clothing itself functions as the sensing platform, allowing users to collect motion, posture, and biometric data simply by getting dressed. The apparel has been adopted for a wide range of applications, including motion capture for sports and ergonomics, posture and gait analysis in rehabilitation, and daily health monitoring, such as sleep quality and fall detection for older adults. Its importance lies in its near-invisible integration of electronics, offering a model for wearable technology that prioritizes comfort, aesthetics, and long-term everyday use.

2. Mitsufuji hamon® Wearable Vital Sensor Apparel

Source: Mitsufuji hamon® Homepage

Kyoto-based Mitsufuji Corporation has long been a pioneer in integrating traditional textile manufacturing with advanced electronics, and its hamon® line is among Japan’s earliest practical implementations of biometric smart clothing. Introduced in the mid-2010s, hamon® apparel incorporates conductive silver fibers and textile-based sensors that can measure heart rate, respiration, and body movement, transmitting that data wirelessly to external devices or cloud platforms. These garments have been deployed in workplace safety programs, healthcare monitoring, and sleep analysis, particularly in environments where continuous observation is required without restricting the wearer’s movement. Mitsufuji’s work is especially notable for pushing smart apparel beyond consumer fitness and into occupational health and caregiving.

3. Xenoma e-skin EMStyle EMS Suit

Source: Xenoma e-skin EMStyle Homepage

Building on its sensor-embedded apparel platform, Xenoma later introduced the e-skin EMStyle suit, which expands the role of smart clothing from passive measurement to active physical engagement. Rather than collecting data alone, the EMStyle suit incorporates textile-based electrodes that deliver controlled electrical muscle stimulation to the wearer. Designed for fitness training and rehabilitation, the suit allows users to activate multiple muscle groups efficiently while maintaining natural movement. This approach enables shorter, more targeted workout sessions and supports physical therapy by stimulating muscles in a controlled and repeatable manner. The EMStyle suit stands out in Japan’s wearable landscape by demonstrating how functional apparel can both sense and influence the body, marking a shift toward interactive, adaptive smart garments.

4. Synesthesia Wear

Source: EMD Synesthesia Wear Homepage

Synesthesia Wear is an experimental smart garment developed as part of an academic and research collaboration led by the Embodied Media Project at Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD). First presented publicly around 2019, the project explores how clothing embedded with conductive textiles and modular haptic actuators can deliver tactile sensations across the body, effectively turning apparel into a full-body sensory interface. The garment is designed to translate digital information—such as motion, sound, or virtual interactions—into physical feedback through vibrations distributed throughout the fabric. Intended primarily for immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences and for research into embodied interaction, Synesthesia Wear demonstrates how smart apparel can go beyond sensing to communicate with the wearer’s nervous system actively.

5. Chikuma no SMAFA Smart Fan-Equipped Wear

Source: Chikuma no SMAFA Homepage

Chikuma no SMAFA Smart Fan-Equipped Wear is a distinctive example of functional apparel designed to combat heat stress by integrating active cooling directly into the garment. Created by Japanese textile firm Chikuma in collaboration with power tool manufacturer Makita and materials giant Teijin, this smart fan wear features a patented dual-layer internal-pressure structure that channels air from built-in fans throughout the fabric without adding excessive bulk, delivering consistent cooling while preserving a sleek silhouette. The wearable system draws in external air using lightweight rechargeable fans. It directs it through strategic vents to high-heat areas such as the neck and underarms, helping lower the wearer’s skin temperature and improve comfort and performance in hot environments. Its practical applications range from occupational safety in outdoor labor to everyday use in extreme summer conditions, and it has been showcased at industry expos and adopted by a variety of businesses.

Conclusion

Japan’s wearable apparel ecosystem has moved far beyond conventional smart devices into true e-textile and sensor-embedded garments that deliver real-world value in health monitoring, performance enhancement, and comfort. Innovators like Xenoma and Mitsufuji are transforming everyday clothing into robust data-collection platforms that capture vital signs and movement without intrusive hardware. At the same time, research from KMD showcases how smart garments can expand human-computer interaction. At the same time, Chikuma’s SMAFA smart fan wear demonstrates how functional apparel can address practical challenges, such as heat stress, by integrating active cooling into both work and casual clothing.

What unifies these innovations is a focus on seamlessness and wearability—where technology enhances clothing without compromising comfort or aesthetics. As Japan continues to foster collaboration between textile craftsmanship and cutting-edge electronics, we can expect smart apparel to play an increasingly central role in personalized health, workplace safety, and human-machine integration worldwide.

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