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NARITA, Chiba — The company managing Narita Airport, located east of Tokyo, has carried out a test of a garment compression device to stop individuals from leaving their bags in the terminals.

This project from Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) seeks to improve ease for passengers looking to carry more belongings and to tackle the increasing problem of forgotten luggage. The firm intends to trial the device with a charge at a later date and may eventually roll it out widely.

A compact device, roughly the size of a bank ATM, was created over a period of four years by the Tokyo-based clothing company Sjoy Co., drawing inspiration from metalworking machinery. Individuals insert their garments into an area measuring around 10 centimeters in height, 15 cm in width, and 30 cm in depth, then shut the lid and press a button. The procedure lasts approximately three minutes, after which the clothing returns to its original condition when opened.

A man in his 30s, employed by a company, from Itabashi Ward in Tokyo, who came to Narita Airport from the Shikoku region in western Japan along with his wife, folded two jackets. “I now have more room in my backpack. I plan to purchase some souvenirs at the airport before returning home,” he mentioned.

Due to the growing number of incoming tourists, Narita Airport has experienced a surge in lost suitcases. As per NAA, there were 124 instances in fiscal 2020, with the count rising each year, reaching 1,073 cases in fiscal 2024 — an increase of over eight times. The airport’s management thinks that numerous travelers purchase new suitcases at the airport when their existing luggage no longer fits, resulting in them leaving their old ones behind.

Akari Saito, representing the airport planning division of NAA, stated, “We frequently observe passengers at the airport facing difficulties with overfilled suitcases that don’t close properly. We aim for this service to address the issue.”

(Japanese original by Tsukimi Goda, Narita Bureau)