Massage Chairs by SANYO

We no longer carry SANYO products in our lineup. This page displays our archive; you cannot place orders here, but the information remains available for reference. To see what we currently carry, please visit the Massage Chairs section.

Do you own a SANYO massage chair? When you buy a new one, we'll take your old one in as a trade-in: old for new.

SANYO manufactured massage chairs until the brand was absorbed by Panasonic in the early 2010s. There haven’t been any new SANYO chairs since then; any unit you come across today is well over 15 years old. In its day, however, SANYO was one of the most technically ambitious manufacturers in the industry. This page provides an overview of the brand: what the chairs were capable of, which models became well-known, and what you, as an owner, should know today.

The Brand: An electronics giant based in the Osaka metropolitan area

SANYO Electric was one of Japan’s major electronics conglomerates, headquartered in Moriguchi near Osaka—the same region where the massage chair was invented in 1954. Massage chairs were just one division among many at SANYO, but it was a high-caliber one: the company incorporated sensor technology and electronics from its other business areas into the chairs. In 2009, Panasonic acquired a majority stake in SANYO, and by 2011, the company had been fully integrated. This also marked the end of the SANYO massage chair line.

What Made SANYO Armchairs Special

At the CES 2007 technology trade show, SANYO unveiled a recliner that combined two features that hardly anyone had at the time. First, the zero-gravity recline position, in which you are positioned so that your legs are raised above heart level and your back rests flat against the seat. Second, a hand sensor that measures your pulse, skin temperature, and skin moisture during a body scan and uses this data to determine where your body is tense; SANYO patented the technology behind it. At the time, the trade press essentially wrote that the chair “knew” where it hurt. Much of this—especially the body scan and zero-gravity features—is now standard in higher-end chairs.

Well-Known Models

The DR 7700 is listed at the top of our archive, along with its specifications and classification.

Do you own a SANYO massage chair?

In that case, your device has been in use for at least 15 years, and the same applies as for all discontinued brands: spare parts are no longer being manufactured, and there is no official point of contact. Panasonic phased out the SANYO line of recliners after the acquisition. All that remains are leftover stocks at a few former dealers; whether you can still find a part for your model there is a matter of luck.

If your chair is still working, consider yourself lucky: the mechanism was built to last. If it’s starting to show signs of wear, be realistic: a repair without access to replacement parts will quickly cost more than it’s worth. When you buy a new chair from us, you can trade in your old one: old for new. And you can see how the technology of yesteryear has evolved in our collection of Japanese massage chairs.

Frequently Asked Questions About SANYO Massage Chairs

Can you still buy new SANYO massage chairs?

No. The brand was absorbed into Panasonic, and the line of armchairs was discontinued. Any units you come across today are either used or very old stock.

How old is my SANYO armchair?

At least 15 years, probably more. The latest models in the DR series were released before the integration with Panasonic, which was completed in 2011.

Is it worth buying a used SANYO armchair?

Perhaps as a collector's item or a temporary solution, but hardly as an everyday appliance. You're buying a device with no supply of replacement parts, where all the wear-and-tear parts are the same age. Honestly compare the used price with what a new recliner with a warranty costs.

Which was the best SANYO model?

The flagship model was the HEC-DR7700, featuring a zero-gravity position and tension sensors—the model that made a splash for SANYO at CES in 2007.

As of August 28, 2026. Sources: SlashGear on CES 2007, Gizmodo on sensor technology, U.S. Patent 6,899,687. Overview of all brands: Massage Chair Manufacturers at a Glance; the origins of the industry: Who invented the massage chair?

Would you like to see the entire selection first? Here's an overview of all our massage chairs with on-site consultation and test seats.