Skip to content
Modern Massage Chair Guide

Modern Massage Chair Guide

Modern Massage Chair Guide

Massage chairs have come a long way from the days of roller wheels embedded within a leather chair, and probably not the best massage experience when compared to today’s modern massage chair. In this post, we’ll be discussing the history of massage chairs, how far massage chair technology has advanced, the modern features we have within our various massage chair brands and models, which styles may match your home or office best, and paying homage to the original invention which laid the groundwork in Japan several decades ago. Enjoy!

The History of Massage Chairs

The first iteration of the modern massage chair itself was produced by Nobuo Fujimoto in Japan in 1954. This massage chair was quite rudimentary in its initial design, yet it still had practicality and functionality, which in turn allowed it to become well praised by customers who had never encountered such a device before. With its initial popularity, it soon became a hit within the entire population of Japan, and soon won the world over.

Dawning Period of Massage Chairs 1954 - 1975

The first couple of decades for the massage chair were interesting. As each year passed, more and more advancements were made within the technology side of the massage chair and the aesthetics of the massage chair itself. This process of furthering and furthering the massage chair engineering and design elements helped to pave the way for the cradle period of the massage chair which we now recognize today as the foundational styling of most massage chair models.

Cradle Period of Massage Chairs 1974 - 2001

The cradle period of massage chairs allowed for a supportive, nurturing, and full-contact massage chair experience. This cradling effect helped to offer support during one’s massage experience, whereas the previous massage chairs from past decades offered little to no cradling support when all was said and done. The cradle period also offered such advancements as air massage, and calf and thigh massage with the help of an extension to offer a full-body massage style experience. 

Establishment Period of Massage Chairs  2001 - 2004

The establishment period of massage chairs began to focus on user-experience customization where the user of the massage chair is able to truly customize the level of massage intensity, the specific areas which are being massaged, and many more design styles to choose from when compared to previous decades. 

Development Period of Massage Chairs 2004 - Present 

The development period of massage chairs led to even more customized features and settings, ultimately allowing everything from heating and cooling effects to be enjoyed while being massaged, all the way to memorized settings which allow more than one user to experience their preferred massage chair session in a shared use setting. Massage chairs have truly advanced far beyond anyone’s initial forecasting, and this allows you, the user, to have one of the best massage chairs on the planet!

How Far Massage Chairs Have Come

As mentioned above, massage chairs have been experiencing new additions, features, technology, and more within every decade which has passed. Let’s explore some of the modern features and different styles which may match your home or office.

Modern Features

Our massage chairs have the most advanced and modern features you’ll find. Below is a list of some of our favorites:

”Butterfly Technology”

Found in the Luraco i9 Max Special Edition Massage Chair, this technology consists of a full neck, shoulder, and back massage running simultaneously to maximize the massage chair experience. The butterfly technology is simulative of the motion of a butterfly spanning it’s wings up and out, then down and back towards the center of your back.



“Intelligent Voice Control”

Found in the Osaki OS-Highpointe 4D Massage Chair, this technology helps you adjust the settings without having to move an inch. When you’re having a zen moment, the last thing you want to do is try to find the remote. Simply provide the chair with a verbal command and it will adjust the settings in real-time as you wish.



“Auto Body Scan”

Found in the Titan Jupiter LE Premium Massage Chair, and many others, this technology will scan your entire neck, shoulder, and back area to determine the appropriate amount of pressure it should initially begin with. From there, your shoulder height will be factored into the equation within the auto body scan to best calibrate the overall massage experience.




True Variety of Styles to Match Your Home & Office

Daiwa Supreme Hybrid


Ogawa Master Drive AI 2.0


Respecting the Original Invention Which Led to a Worldwide Phenomenon

Paying homage to the original invention which paved the way for all of the massage chair companies and models which have been produced thus far is important. It’s vital to recognize the roots of our industry and we hope this post has helped you learn more about how we’ve reached the modern massage chair we all enjoy today.

Choose MassageChairPlanet for Your Modern Massage Chair Needs

Be sure to check out all of our massage chair models by clicking the button below. You’ll surely find something which matches your style, preferred features, and overall functionality you want in a massage chair. Feel free to contact us using our chat feature, or give us a call at 888-851-5317 should you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you soon!


SHOP NOW

Previous article Massage Chair for Office
Next article Massage Chair for Living Room