An Overview of Massage Chair Brands
We currently carry 13 massage chair brands, and you’ll find names on the market that span 70 years of industry history. This overview sorts the brands by origin and honestly states for each one where they are developed and where they are manufactured. After all, brand and manufacturer are two different things: Only 8 of the names on this page manufacture their products in their own factories; all the others have them manufactured by third parties. The vast majority of all massage chairs worldwide roll off the assembly line in China, while development takes place in Japan, Korea, the U.S., and Germany. You can read about how it all began in our guide: Who invented the massage chair?
Brands from Japan
The Inventor: In 1954, company founder Nobuo Fujimoto built the world’s first mass-produced massage chair in Osaka; that original model is now designated as Japanese Industrial Heritage No. 68. To this day, Fujiiryoki continues to develop and manufacture its top-of-the-line models in its own factories in Japan. We carry the brand’s JP4000, the international version of the Japanese flagship model, the AS-R2300. To the “ Fujiiryoki ” collection
A Japanese brand whose armchairs are manufactured in Japan. KOYO embodies the classic Japanese school: precise kneading massage takes precedence over feature lists. KOYO , along with OHCO and Positive Posture , is part of the American Furniture-For-Life Group (FFL); we are the European distributor for its brands. About the KOYO collection
OHCO is a U.S. company, but it has its armchairs manufactured in Japan. They were designed by a Japanese designer with the needs of the American market in mind. OHCO is also an FFL brand in our distribution portfolio. About the " OHCO" collection
Other brands from Japan: Family Inada, Panasonic, SANYO
Family Inada is one of the industry’s pioneers and has been manufacturing fully automatic massage chairs since 1962; its latest models are now also manufactured in China. Learn more about Family Inada. Panasonic was the first major corporation to enter the market in 1969 and has been manufacturing in China for decades. By 2025, Panasonic had withdrawn from Europe and was focusing on other markets; as a result, new models are not currently available for sale here. Learn more about Panasonic. Only SANYO has a truly historic background: the brand was absorbed into Panasonic. Anyone offered a SANYO chair today is looking at a unit that is well over 15 years old; before buying, it’s worth taking a realistic look at spare parts and service options. Learn more about SANYO.
Brands from Korea
Korea's best-known massage chair brand, developed in Seoul and manufactured in China. Bodyfriend stands out for its unique design and invests heavily in medical technology research. Explore the Bodyfriend collection
Designed in Korea, built in China. You can only truly appreciate the KAI series when you sit in it. Explore the HUTECH-KAI collection
Ceragem
A Korean healthcare technology company that made its name with thermal massage tables and has recently entered the market with massage chairs as well; the products are manufactured in China. It’s a name you’ll be seeing more often in the coming years.
Brands from Singapore
Developed and designed in Singapore, manufactured in China. OSIM is one of the largest wellness brands in Asia and brings a wealth of experience from hundreds of its own retail stores. Explore the OSIM collection
Brands from Taiwan
Johnson Health Tech (Synca, Inner Balance)
The Taiwanese Johnson Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of exercise equipment; it manufactures in its own factories and operates in the massage market under the sub-brands Synca and Inner Balance. Both names therefore represent the same company, albeit with different focuses. We list models from both brands in our archive for reference. Fujiiryoki is now also part of the Johnson Group, but is operated as an independent brand with its own product development.
Brands from the U.S.
Developed and designed in the U.S., manufactured in China. The brand has its roots in ergonomic recliners and, accordingly, places great emphasis on seating comfort even without an active massage. Positive Posture is the third FFL brand in our company. To the Positive Posture Collection
LURACO
A rarity in the industry: LURACO has been designing and manufacturing its armchairs in the U.S. since the 2000s. We have carried the brand ourselves with the iRobotics 7 PLUS (i7); however, LURACO does not currently export to Europe, so the armchairs are unfortunately not available here.
Human Touch
A U.S. company with a long history in the American massage chair market; its products are manufactured in China. In Germany, Alpha Techno served as an importer over the past decade and sold Human-Touch devices; however, no new models have been released in Europe for about ten years.
Brands from Germany
We are the manufacturer here: The " Allgäuer Massagetechnik " is produced in our own factory. It is manufactured in Germany using 95% German components, with final assembly taking place in-house. This makes it one of the very few massage chair lines that are truly built in Germany. View the collection Allgäuer Massagetechnik
A German company based in Paderborn, in the massage business since 2000, with manufacturing in China. Casada is one of the best-known names in the industry throughout Europe. About the " Casada" collection
A German company based in Tauberbischofsheim. Production generally takes place in China, though some of the older devices came from Japan and Taiwan. Alpha Techno has been on the German market for decades and is therefore commonly found in medical practices and studios. About the Alpha-Techno Collection
Developed in Germany, manufactured in China. The name says it all: These devices are designed for therapy-oriented use. Explore the " PhysioChair" collection
Our private label: designed in Germany, manufactured in China according to our specifications. It’s inspired by what we hear every day in our consulting work and specifically addresses the gaps we’ve found in other brands. Explore our private label collection
AllgäuTech
Not to be confused with our Allgäuer Massagetechnik: AllgäuTech GmbH was an independent German manufacturer that was forced to file for bankruptcy at the end of 2021. Some units are still in circulation; we list the models in our archive for reference. Go to the AllgäuTech Archive
Brands from China
A Chinese manufacturer that handles all development and production in-house. iRest is one of the country's largest manufacturers and also produces products for other brands. View the iRest collection
OGAWA
Historically a Malaysian company, it has since been acquired by Chinese owners. OGAWA is a genuine manufacturer with its own production facilities in China; it’s a major player in Asia and is primarily present in Germany through imports.
ROTAI
One of the truly major Chinese manufacturers: ROTAI develops and manufactures its products in China, in factories that supply a significant portion of the global market.
Kangtai
Kangtai also manufactures on a large scale for numerous brands worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Chair Brands
Which massage chair brand is the best?
There isn't just one "best" chair—there are several. Whether the rollers align with your shoulders or miss them by a little depends on your height and where your pelvis sits in the chair, and each manufacturer handles this differently. That's why we have every chair set up here, and you can try them out one by one.
Which massage chairs are actually manufactured in Germany?
Very few. Our Allgäuer Massagetechnik is manufactured in Germany, using 95% German components. The other German brands, such as Casada and Alpha Techno , develop their products here and have them manufactured in China, which is standard practice in the industry and says nothing about quality.
Which brands are from Japan?
Fujiiryoki KOYO , and others develop and manufacture their products in Japan, while , a U.S. company, has its products manufactured in Japan. Historically, Family Inada, Panasonic, and SANYO are also from Japan. OHCO
Who invented the massage chair?
Nobuo Fujimoto, the founder of Fujiiryoki, built the world's first mass-produced massage chair in Osaka in 1954. The full story with original photos: Who invented the massage chair?
You can really feel the difference between these brands when you sit in them. In our seven showrooms, many of the armchairs are set up side by side, and you can try them out one after another. Find a showroom near you
As of August 28, 2026. This information is based on our contacts with manufacturers and our consulting experience at 7 showrooms.