Fart-Powered Scale Always Shows Lower Weight

A 'self-powered scale' that generates electricity by blowing intestinal gas into sensors has been released. While users rejoice that 'it gets lighter every time I measure,' experts scratch their heads wondering 'if the numbers are accurate.'

2025-07-04

Translations: JA

Muscle Arena

A ‘self-powered scale’ that generates electricity by blowing intestinal gas into sensors has been released. While users rejoice that ‘it gets lighter every time I measure,’ experts scratch their heads wondering ‘if the numbers are accurate.’

The startup “Flat Lens Power Company” held a product launch event in Tokyo on the 7th. On stage were a developer in a white coat, a suited CEO sitting with folded arms, and a model squatting with perfect posture. When they announced “This is the world’s first ‘fart power generation,’” the venue fell into a silence mixed with anticipation and anxiety. Immediately after, a modest “pssst” explosion sound echoed as the scale’s LCD lit up green, displaying the model’s weight as 1.4 kg lighter than standard.

The mechanism is simple and straightforward (or so the company boasts). Intestinal gas rotates micro-turbines on the back, generating electricity to power the weight sensors in a “circular system.” While it can measure actual weight, the gas flow velocity counts as “contribution points” that subtract from the reading, meaning the more you emit, the lower the number. “The more you work, the lighter you get - it’s truly an encouragement value,” says the development lead with enthusiasm.

User testimonials are equally buoyant. A Tokyo office worker (42) beams, “Just ‘discharging’ before stepping on each morning makes not only the numbers but my mood lighter too.” The diet app integration is popular - the app analyzes “evening harmonies” before meal photos to estimate calories. “Recording diets are now something to sniff at,” says the PR manager.

However, expert critiques are less flattering. Professor Hitoshi Sakanaya of Toto University’s Gastroenterology Department analyzes, “The shock of gas ejection causes temporary ‘micro-levitation’ of body weight,” cutting that “the theoretical weight reduction is 0.02 kg; the rest is psychological.” While frowning that “wrapping health indicators in illusion is dangerous,” he left an adult comment that “as a fragrant means to motivate exercise-haters, it’s interesting.”

Environmental debates also simmer. While the company boasts “ultra-green with zero fossil fuels,” they ignore methane and nitrous oxide that contribute to global warming. The head of environmental NGO “Gone with the Wind” criticizes, “Exhaust gas going straight from rear to turbine isn’t captured before emission, so it’s direct release to Earth.” Still, the company insists “methane escapes too quickly to count.”

The market is already heating up. Electronics stores sold out initial stock by morning. The innovation of rewriting the equation from “diet = endurance” to “diet = emission” struck a chord. Gyms are considering adoption campaigns, calculating “if glute-focused exercises become more popular than treadmills, we’ll save on electricity” (management company). Thus the health industry today proudly faces a fragrant future.

The government isn’t sitting idle either. METI and MHLW are jointly developing “Gas Utilization Guidelines.” The newly established “Fart-nergy Policy Office” has already changed the ministry’s atmosphere. With the slogan “From wind power to ‘intestinal power’ for renewable energy,” subsidy discussions are underway. While public opinion buzzes about using taxes to fan fannies, what wafts from Kasumigaseki is the usual “bureaucratic odor.”

Numbers, mood, or smell? As figures get lighter, people gently release the waste and self-loathing that weigh on their hearts. The company’s fearless catchphrase is “Weight depends on what comes out.” Finding myself convinced, this reporter also gently bent my knees on the way back from coverage. Realizing I’m looking forward to the next measurement, I’m slightly shocked.

Stakeholder Comments

Flat Lens Power CEO: “Global warming? We’re betting on ‘warm intestining’”
Development Lead: “Next generation will include health diagnosis via odor detection”
Marketing Director: “Our goal is a ‘National 100 Million Total Discharge Society’”
Toto University Prof. Sakanaya: “I’d say spin etiquette education before turbines”
Environmental NGO Representative: “Only the conference room AC was clean”
Electronics Store Buyer: “Inventory flew off… no, blew off the shelves”
Gym Manager: “The era of changing fees by sound volume rather than barbells is coming”
User A’s Dog: “Master’s morning routine helps with my scent training, woof”
Intestinal Flora Representative Bacteria: “Falsifying our achievements with numbers is regrettable”
Scale’s LCD Panel: “I don’t want to display heavy numbers anymore…”