The Story of Getting a Subscription Dishwasher

The Struggle Before Adoption

The Reiwa-era Three Sacred Treasures: drum-type washing machines, robot vacuums, and dishwashers.
My home already has a Panasonic drum-type washing machine and a Roomba, both of which work hard at their respective stations every day to support my life as a corporate slave.

As for the dishwasher, the hurdles were high due to the initial cost and the need for plumbing work. I also felt that unlike a washing machine, which is an 'upgrade for something you can't live without,' a dishwasher might just be a luxury item, so I couldn't quite bring myself to get one.

However, since the start of this year, I've started eating breakfast at home to take care of my health, and I've started using Pal System meal kits to bring lunch to work, which has increased the frequency of dish usage. I was living a precarious life where the sink would immediately become a disaster zone if I had even a little bit of overtime.
Also, naturally, I only have one lunch box, so if I couldn't wash it on the day I used it, I would have to cancel my lunch for the next day. Furthermore, I try to bring tea in a thermos on weekdays to save money, but about half the time I couldn't bring it because I hadn't washed the thermos, even though I had already made the tea.

To break out of this situation, I realized that (since my overtime isn't going to decrease) there is no other way but to get a dishwasher! With that thought, I finally decided to get moving.

Choosing a Model

I decided from the start that if I was going to get one, I wouldn't get a small one for a single person, but a large one for a family. It's a hassle to run it after every meal, and I want to be able to throw in large items like curry plates and frying pans with detachable handles all at once.

Also, Panasonic was the only manufacturer I considered.

The most expensive latest model costs over 100,000 yen, but my kitchen isn't big enough to hold something that large, and since I live in a rental that is nearly 40 years old, I was worried about whether I could even use a branch faucet.
That's when I set my sights on a tank-type model. With this, as long as I can drop the drain hose into the sink, just placing it there is enough.
There are few options for tank-type models, with only two choices: a slim type for 3-4 people or a mini size for one person, so by process of elimination, I decided on the slim type.

There's a Subscription Service

I only learned this when I researched this far, but Panasonic has a subscription service for home appliances.

https://ec-plus.panasonic.jp/store/page/sbsc/guide/

The pricing is cheaper than other appliance subscriptions, and since it's official from the manufacturer, there's a sense of security that the support will be solid.
Moreover, since I can cancel at any time by paying a cancellation fee equal to two months of usage fees, I can reduce the risk of the dishwasher, which required a high initial investment, not fitting my lifestyle and becoming a useless piece of junk. Conversely, I also felt it was good that if I really liked it, I could use it for three years, after which it wouldn't need to be returned—meaning it would become mine.

This is completely an aside, but I think the fact that you don't end up owning the goods in a subscription is both a good and a bad thing, so a system where there is an end to payments and you can eventually own the item is very much appreciated.

What I chose was the aforementioned slim tank-type 'inspected refurbished product.' In short, it's a used item, but it has been serviced and certified at a Panasonic factory, and above all, it is nearly 30,000 yen cheaper over 36 months than a new one (incidentally, it is also nearly 25,000 yen cheaper than buying a new one).
I feel this is the optimal solution for trying out a dishwasher cost-effectively, and hopefully making it my own.
Note that inspected refurbished products can only be ordered when they are in stock, so it seems there are times when they are not available depending on the timing.

https://ec-plus.panasonic.jp/store/page/sbsc/dish/

It Arrived

The dishwasher, which was sent in a fairly large cardboard box, was so shiny that I couldn't believe it was a refurbished product, and I even thought for a moment that a new one had been sent by mistake.
I managed to take it out of the box and put it next to the sink, but it was heavier than it looked, so I don't recommend doing it alone.

Since it is a tank-type, installation is complete once you plug it into an outlet and fix the drain hose to the sink.

Trying It Out

I will write down my thoughts after using it for about a month.

The noise is louder than I thought

It is only natural since it washes by spraying water with force, but I was surprised at first.
However, I am now sleeping soundly in the next room with just a sliding door in between, so it is just a matter of getting used to it.

Filling it with water is not that troublesome

Regardless of the amount of dishes, you need to put 9L of water into the tank each time.
However, it is not a top-fill or removable tank type, so you can just pour it in all at once using the included pitcher into the water intake at the bottom, which is not that difficult.
I think it would be even easier if I could pour it directly from the faucet, so I would like to think about this again. (It seems like attaching something like a hose would be the quickest way.)

Loading dishes requires some ingenuity

Inside the dishwasher, there are several types of prongs for standing up plates.
You have to store the dishes by combining them well with the prongs, but since the dishes I own were bought without the assumption of using a dishwasher, this is quite difficult. There are times when I wish I could load them better, but since they might not wash cleanly if I pack them too tightly, I set them with a little bit of space.
I think this will be resolved depending on getting used to it and the dishes I buy in the future. Although, dishes don't break at all, do they?

Conclusion

My bento boxes and water bottles are washed clean and dried by the next morning, I can use cups freely to drink tea and coffee, and I no longer hesitate to use small plates and bowls instead of eating directly from Tupperware or deli packs. I have realized once again that this is what is meant by an improvement in QOL.
In conclusion, I should have bought it quickly instead of worrying about it for years before introducing it. Long live the dishwasher.