Responding to changing lifestyles, household goods manufacturers have been racing to flood the market with the next big thing: products that help dry laundry in the home, without the musty smell.
Japanese have traditionally preferred to dry laundered clothes and linen out in the sun, but modern life has forced growing numbers to dry their washing inside the home.
For working couples, evenings are often the only time available to do laundry. And for people who live in big cities and close to major thoroughfares, drying laundry indoors is the only way to avoid grime caused by car fumes and airborne dirt.