OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Compact appliances that maximize limited living space are gaining popularity in Japan as soaring housing prices make larger homes less affordable, particularly in urban areas. 

The trend, dubbed "supepa" by Japanese consumers for "space performance," has prompted manufacturers to roll out new products designed to make efficient use of limited space while maintaining comfort and functionality. 

For example, Panasonic Corp.'s SD series drum-type washer-dryer measures just 60 centimeters wide and 65 cm deep but offers a 10-kilogram washing capacity, thanks to a redesigned internal structure. 

Since its launch in January last year, the model has logged sales about 30 percent above projections as of this March, driven by demand from consumers looking to install drum-type washing machines in tight spaces. 

Meanwhile, Iris Ohyama Inc.'s IRSD-17A refrigerator-freezer is just 44 cm wide, with added height providing a 120-liter refrigerator compartment and a 50-liter freezer compartment. 

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, the average price of a newly built condominium unit in the Tokyo metropolitan area in the first half of 2026 rose 13.1 percent from a year earlier to a record 101.35 million yen ($640,000). 

With storage space limited, companies are also launching products designed to blend into living spaces, such as Sharp Corp.'s EC-CR1 cordless stick vacuum cleaner. Launched in August, it features a sleek design that blends easily with interior decor, the company said.