Panasonic Launches 'Aruono L-CLASS' with Industry's Smallest Depth for Spacious Feel and Enhanced Comfort

Panasonic Housing Solutions Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Masashi Yamada) announces a full model change for its fully automatic self-cleaning toilet 'Aruono,' commemorating its 20th anniversary since launch. The company will introduce the compact 'Aruono L-CLASS' with the industry's smallest depth (※1) and a new semi-floating type—the only one of its kind in the industry (※2)—starting October 21, 2026 (semi-floating type available December 21, 2026). This launch aims to deliver spaciousness and premium quality to limited bathroom spaces amid Japan's trend toward smaller homes.

Product Name

Panasonic TOILET Aruono L-CLASS

Suggested Retail Price (excluding tax and installation)

Floor-standing type: ¥352,000 and up

Semi-floating type: ¥382,000 and up

Order Acceptance Start Date

October 21, 2026 (semi-floating type: December 21, 2026)

Background

In recent years, rising housing prices in Japan have made it challenging to create comfortable living spaces within limited budgets. As a result, homes are becoming smaller, increasing demand for efficient use of limited floor space.

Additionally, with increasingly diverse lifestyles, the values people seek in their homes are changing. Rather than luxury-driven 'high-end' appeal, there is a growing preference for 'premium quality' found in harmonious integration with space and minimalist designs stripped of excess. Moreover, heightened awareness of natural disaster risks means home appliances must offer not only comfort but also peace of mind.

In homes, the toilet is one of the most space-constrained areas, requiring a balance of compactness, comfort, design, and reliability. However, internal surveys (※3) have revealed issues such as 'claustrophobia,' 'difficulty cleaning,' 'dissatisfaction with appearance,' and concerns about 'odor and noise.' In response to these market needs, the company has reimagined the toilet not as a standalone appliance, but as an element that enhances spatial value.

The new 'Aruono L-CLASS' combines minimalist design that brings spaciousness and premium quality to compact areas with thoughtful attention to sound and odor. Amid shrinking homes and increasingly diverse homeowner values, this product delivers new spatial value and solutions.

The company's business slogan is 'Creating the “forever” of living—Green Housing,' reflecting its commitment to addressing evolving values and social challenges to build a sustainable, affluent society.

<Features>

1. Industry's smallest depth (※1) creates spaciousness; enhanced comfort

2. Noiseless design addressing dissatisfaction with appearance, usability, odor, and sound

3. Price reduction despite full model change amid rising costs (※4)

[Features]

1. Industry's smallest depth (※1) creates spaciousness; enhanced comfort

Internal surveys (※3) show that desirable bathroom elements include 'a relaxing atmosphere' (approx. 57%), 'simple and refined design' (approx. 42%), and 'spacious bathroom area' (approx. 37%), indicating that comfort as a living space is now as important as functional performance. About 60% of respondents agreed that 'having spaciousness and blank space in the bathroom contributes to a sense of premium quality and comfort.'

Furthermore, after 'ease of stain removal' and 'deodorizing function,' 'comfortable seating' ranks as a key factor in toilet selection, reflecting rising expectations for comfort.

The 'Aruono L-CLASS' reduces depth by approximately 78 mm compared to previous models, achieving an industry-leading compact depth of 622 mm (※1). The compact body creates extra space around the feet and front, making daily movements like sitting, standing, and turning easier, while reducing the overall sense of confinement. While maintaining the same seat depth as previous models, the seat surface area has been expanded to 105%, delivering a more relaxed and comfortable seating experience.

Additionally, the design allows easy access to the back of the unit, improving cleanability. Surveys show that about 39% of users find current toilets 'difficult to clean' and about 16% find them 'too small.' The L-CLASS addresses these common pain points for many households.

2. Noiseless design addressing dissatisfaction with appearance, usability, odor, and sound

The 'Aruono L-CLASS' focuses on four everyday concerns in bathroom spaces—'appearance and design,' 'usability,' 'odor,' and 'sound'—to reduce dissatisfaction and stress, thereby enhancing overall comfort. By minimizing visual clutter, improving ease of maintenance and seating comfort, ensuring a pleasant air environment, and providing a quiet user experience, the toilet evolves from a mere home appliance into interior design that harmonizes with living spaces.

In design, the concept 'creating blank space in the room' led to a new aesthetic that blends the toilet into the space while enhancing the overall beauty. Building on Aruono's signature 'Shikakumaru (square-rounded)' design, the form has evolved into a noiseless shape by eliminating unnecessary textures and shadows. Flat, horizontal forms and reverse-tapered shapes enhance integration with the living environment. Additionally, the industry-exclusive (※2) semi-floating type has been added to the lineup. This design creates openness under the unit, delivering a light, floating sensation and a sense of spaciousness. The floor-mounted structure eliminates the need for wall reinforcement, making it easy to install even during renovations.

The color palette now includes 'Sustainable Gray,' a calm gray tone that naturally blends into spaces and aligns with the recent popularity of neutral colors, enhancing harmony with interiors. Factory waste materials from the manufacturing process are reused, reflecting environmental consideration alongside aesthetic design.

Internal surveys (※3) also show that 'simple and refined design' is a desirable bathroom element for about 42% of respondents, and 'appliances and interiors harmonizing with the space' for about 15%, indicating growing demand for interior design appeal in home fixtures.

In terms of usability, the L-CLASS inherits the cleaning performance honed in previous Aruono models. The 'Bubble Cleaning' function automatically cleans the bowl using foam generated from commercially available kitchen neutral detergents, while a unique spiral water flow enables efficient flushing with minimal water. The toilet also features Panasonic's proprietary Sugopika material (organic glass-based), which resists limescale and dirt adhesion. Additional cleaning-focused features include 'Seamless Design'—eliminating gaps between the bowl and seat—and 'Triple Stain Guard.' According to customer surveys (※6), about 80% reported that 'cleaning has become easier,' the proportion of users who don't use a brush during cleaning has nearly doubled, and the share of users who finish cleaning within five minutes has increased by about 20%.

For odor and sound, the model is equipped with 'Nano-eX (48 trillion),' generating approximately 10 times more ions than previous models. This enhances odor removal in the bathroom space and suppresses odors adhering to walls and other surfaces. It reduces the daily burden of odor control and maintains a comfortable, clean air environment even after use.