Disrupted breathing patterns had become a social challenge

・More and more people have dysfunctional breathing due to mask use during the pandemic and prolonged use of smartphones and computers.

・According to a study, 80% of people experience screen apnea, a new problem where people involuntarily hold their breath while looking at screens.

・It has been reported widely that shallow, dysregulated breathing reduces concentration and mental and physical function.

Develop fufuly, a cushion that breathes. Expanding and contracting as if it were breathing, fufuly induces deep breathing and calms the mind spontaneously, just by hugging it. Drawing on research conducted by the University of Tokyo, we exploited the breath synchronization phenomenon that living beings possess to develop Deep Breathing Technology that we incorporated into the cushion-shaped device. Reference research confirms that breathing induction increases feelings of calm during cushion use and task performance after cushion use.

・Crowd funding (Kickstarter) sales have commenced. Garnered 647% of the funding goal.

・93% of people who held fufuly reported feeling calmer. (source: Deep Breathing Lounge).

・Named an honoree at the CES 2023 Innovation Awards and displayed at CES 2023.

・Named in The Washington Post’s “Best tech we found at CES 2023” and Billboard’s “CES 2023 Best Products.” Also featured in over 100 international media outlets, including Engadget and TechCrunch.

・We also created Deep Breathing Lounges where people can experience fufuly within companies and at various locations in Tokyo, expanding new business potential.

■Technology

We developed Deep Breathing Technology and incorporated in the device. In reference research into breathing and rest conducted by the University of Tokyo, it was reported that holding the expanding and contracting device can spontaneously synchronize both breathing rhythm and depth, calm the mind, and increase task performance.

■Design

We designed the cushion to be calming, with a shape inspired by a puff of exhaled air and white coloring to represent clean air. The organic shape that narrows on each side can be held in multiple ways, depending on the mood. To give the sensation of holding a living being, we took special care with fufuly’s weight and gentle-to-the-touch feel.

■Where we went the extra mile

fufuly was honed through trial and error and numerous pilot tests to perfect the breathing rhythm and design, the device’s durability and quietness, and the weight that best mimics a living being.

・Crowd funding (Kickstarter) sales have commenced. Garnered 647% of the funding goal.

・93% of people who held fufuly reported feeling calmer. (source: Deep Breathing Lounge).

・Named an honoree at the CES 2023 Innovation Awards and displayed at CES 2023.

・Named in The Washington Post’s “Best tech we found at CES 2023” and Billboard’s “CES 2023 Best Products.” Also featured in over 100 international media outlets, including Engadget and TechCrunch.

・We also created Deep Breathing Lounges where people can experience fufuly within companies and at various locations in Tokyo, expanding new business potential.