Medirom Decides to Double Installation of Authentication Device “Orb” to 200 Stores, in Collaboration with “World” Co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania

Rhea-AI Summary

MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies (NASDAQ:MRM) has announced plans to expand the deployment of World ID's authentication device "Orb" to 200 locations across its Re.Ra.Ku relaxation studios in Japan, making it the largest installation of Orbs in the country.

The company is partnering with World, a "proof of human" protocol co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania, to implement this technology that verifies human authenticity without personal identification. The initial deployment of 100 Orbs is set to complete this month, followed by the expansion to 200 locations.

MEDIROM operates over 300 wellness salons nationwide under various brands including Re.Ra.Ku, Spa Re.Ra.Ku, Re.Ra.Ku PRO, Bell Epoc, and Ruam Ruam, while also maintaining a presence in HealthTech with applications like Lav® and the MOTHER Bracelet® smart tracker.

Positive

• First major commercial deployment of World ID Orbs in Japan, positioning MEDIROM as a technology leader
• Partnership with high-profile tech leaders Sam Altman and Alex Blania's World project
• Strategic expansion from 100 to 200 locations shows strong commitment to technology integration

Negative

• Significant investment required for widespread Orb deployment
• Implementation costs and operational impacts not disclosed

Insights

Technology & Healthcare Strategist

Medirom's expanded partnership with World ID enhances its tech positioning while creating Japan's largest Orb authentication network.

Medirom's decision to double its deployment of World ID's Orb authentication devices from 100 to 200 locations represents a significant strategic positioning at the intersection of healthcare and emerging digital identity technology. This expansion will create Japan's largest installation of Orbs, establishing Medirom as a key player in the regional deployment of this technology.

The partnership with World, co-founded by OpenAI's Sam Altman and Alex Blania, gives Medirom early-mover advantage in integrating proof-of-human authentication technology within the healthcare/wellness space. This positions the company to potentially benefit from the growing need to distinguish between human and AI interactions in digital environments.

For a wellness company operating over 300 relaxation studios across Japan, this technology integration represents a strategic diversification beyond traditional services into the digital identity infrastructure space. While immediate revenue impact is unclear, the move aligns with Medirom's broader evolution from a pure wellness provider into a technology-integrated healthcare company, as evidenced by their previous expansion into HealthTech with on-demand training apps and smart tracking devices.

The deployment creates tangible touchpoints for World ID's technology across Japan while providing Medirom with potential data collection capabilities and positioning for future technology-based services within their extensive network of physical locations.

TOKYO, Sept. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kouji Eguchi; NASDAQ: MRM), a diversified healthcare company, has joined “World,” a “proof of human” protocol co-founded by Sam Altman and Tools for Humanity’s CEO, Alex Blania. MEDIROM plans to complete the deployment of the World ID proof of human authentication device Orb across 100 of its Re.Ra.Ku relaxation studios in Japan within this month, and to expand the deployment to 200 locations nationwide further. This expansion marks the largest installation of Orbs in Japan to date, providing greater access to this new social infrastructure that enables individuals to prove their unique humanness.

Through the integration of healthcare and technology, MEDIROM is committed to driving the adoption of World ID in Japan.

■About World ID
World ID is a global authentication technology that proves “humanness.”
In recent years, with the rapid evolution of generative AI, we are entering a society where it is difficult to distinguish between humans and AI. Against this backdrop, World ID aims to provide “digital proof of human”.

The Orb, an advanced camera, is used to verify humanness of individuals without identifying them.

Once verification is complete, a verified World ID is issued and stored in World App, enabling its use across various compatible services.

HP：https://world.org/

◼︎About Re.Ra.Ku Group

Re.Ra.Ku Group operates more than 300 relaxation studios nationwide, centered around Re.Ra.Ku. In addition to “Re.Ra.Ku,” which is located in commercial facilities and street-front stores, the group also operates five other brands: “Spa Re.Ra.Ku,” which is located in hot spring facilities; “Re.Ra.Ku PRO,” which operates a multi-purpose running station; “Bell Epoc,” which offers a wide range of services such as reflexology and aromatherapy body care, mainly in rural areas; and “Ruam Ruam,” which offers Asian massage techniques.
Web https://reraku.jp/

◼︎About MEDIROM Group

MEDIROM Group operates over 300 wellness salons under the "Re.Ra.Ku®" brand nationwide. Since 2015, we have expanded into HealthTech, offering on-demand training apps like Lav® for specific health guidance and lifestyle improvement programs. In 2020, we started manufacturing the battery-free smart tracker "MOTHER Bracelet®," which is now used in REMONY, our remote monitoring system for various industries including caregiving, transportation, construction, and manufacturing.

About MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc.
NASDAQ Symbol: MRM
Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Web https://medirom.co.jp/en

*The plans, forecasts, and figures included in this release are as of September 25, 2025, and may be subject to change without notice.
*World, WorldID, Worldcoin, and Orb are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tools for Humanity Corporation.
*MOTHER Bracelet® is a registered trademark of MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc.

Contact
Medirom Healthcare Technologies Inc. — Email: press@medirom.co.jp

Forward-Looking Statements Regarding MEDIROM
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include estimates or expectations about MEDIROM’s possible or assumed operational results, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunities, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “design,” “target,” “aim,” “hope,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “goal,” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements relate to future events or to MEDIROM’s future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause MEDIROM’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond MEDIROM’s control and which could, and likely will, affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects MEDIROM’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MEDIROM’s operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release include:

● MEDIROM’s ability to achieve its development goals for its business and execute and evolve its growth strategies, priorities and initiatives;
● changes in Japanese and global economic conditions and financial markets, including their effects on MEDIROM’s expansion in Japan and certain overseas markets;
● MEDIROM’s ability to achieve and sustain profitability in its Digital Preventative Healthcare Segment;
● the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates, which affects MEDIROM’s expenses and liabilities payable in foreign currencies;
● MEDIROM’s ability to maintain and enhance the value of its brands and to enforce and maintain its trademarks and protect its other intellectual property;
● MEDIROM’s ability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms or at all;
● MEDIROM’s level of indebtedness and potential restrictions on MEDIROM under MEDIROM’s debt instruments;
● changes in consumer preferences and MEDIROM’s competitive environment;
● MEDIROM’s ability to respond to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and to global pandemics, such as COVID-19; and
● the regulatory environment in which MEDIROM operates.

More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect MEDIROM’s business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, and stock price is included in MEDIROM’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in the “Risk Factors” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” sections of MEDIROM’s most recently filed periodic report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. MEDIROM assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/babdf997-be0c-4690-9e48-292e4dcd8353

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6270b959-b29d-4a3c-9458-a01af74585c7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2efbc868-5d87-4be2-a59c-7da49c2351c7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56d20655-dea0-4b30-adbb-a69e2bb4e5dc

FAQ

How many World ID Orb devices will MEDIROM (NASDAQ:MRM) install in Japan?

MEDIROM will install 200 World ID Orb devices across its Re.Ra.Ku relaxation studios in Japan, expanding from an initial deployment of 100 devices.

What is the purpose of World ID's Orb device in MEDIROM locations?

The Orb device is used to verify human authenticity without identifying individuals, providing digital proof of humanness in an era where distinguishing between humans and AI is becoming more challenging.

How many wellness locations does MEDIROM operate in Japan?

MEDIROM operates over 300 wellness salons nationwide under various brands including Re.Ra.Ku, Spa Re.Ra.Ku, Re.Ra.Ku PRO, Bell Epoc, and Ruam Ruam.

Who are the founders of World ID that MEDIROM is partnering with?

World ID was co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania (CEO of Tools for Humanity).

What other technology products does MEDIROM offer besides wellness services?

MEDIROM offers HealthTech solutions including the Lav® training app for health guidance and the battery-free MOTHER Bracelet® smart tracker used in their REMONY remote monitoring system.