MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies says a master service agreement with Tools for Humanity and the World Foundation is now in effect, setting the stage for expanded deployment of iris-scanning Orb devices in retail locations across Japan.
The Tokyo-based company said the agreement became effective on February 2, 2026. MEDIROM said Orbs are currently installed at more than 150 locations, primarily at Re.Ra.Ku relaxation studios operated by the MEDIROM Group, and that cumulative authentications have surpassed 20,000.
Tools for Humanity is the company behind World, the digital identity and proof-of-personhood project formerly known as Worldcoin. The Orb is a globe-shaped device used to capture iris and facial biometrics to create a credential called World ID, which the project positions as a way for people to prove they are human online without sharing traditional identity information.
MEDIROM said it is targeting expansion to approximately 3,000 locations nationwide in Japan. Based on current authentication performance levels, the company estimated it could generate income before income taxes of approximately $39 million over the next two years under the agreement if it meets the expansion target. The release described the forecast as an estimate and included forward-looking statement language.
The announcement adds to a broader push by World to scale physical verification points through partnerships with consumer-facing businesses. The project has faced regulatory headwinds in several markets — Thailand ordered Worldcoin to halt iris scans and delete biometric data, while the Philippines imposed a biometric ban that the company has contested. More recently, World launched iris biometrics in Italy as Kenya confirmed regulatory compliance with local data protection requirements.
MEDIROM said it operates about 300 wellness salons in Japan and has expanded into health technology offerings, including a wearable smart tracker and a remote monitoring system used across industries. Tools for Humanity is headquartered in San Francisco and Munich and has said it is building infrastructure to support wider World ID adoption as AI-driven fraud and synthetic identities become more common.
Sources: GlobeNewswire
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
