Haier and AQUA held a joint launch event featuring Hanyu Yuzuru (羽生結弦) on 29 September, unveiling a new flagship model and special editions centered on ice performances and shared platform technology. The contours of their brand strategies for the Japanese market became clearer.
Haier and AQUA held a joint launch event on 29 September 2026, accompanied by an ice performance, demonstrating how the two brands can combine collaboration with distinct identities. The staging, which placed the ambassador on the ice, highlighted the differences between the brands alongside the spectacle.
Haier introduced its first high-end series in Japan, “A.M.U.,” and indicated a policy of making a full-scale entry into the premium market for large refrigerators and front-loading washer-dryers. AQUA, meanwhile, set out its mission of “solving fundamental challenges through unique ideas and technology” and emphasized combining ease of use in the home with design.
The refrigerators share a “Bottom Cooling System” platform. The conventional rear-mounted condenser is moved to the bottom, with an indirect cooling design intended to reduce drying and frost formation. The strategy is to standardize expanded capacity and improved usability across both brands while reflecting differences in lifestyles.
The Kanade washing machine features an independently operated upper-and-lower DUO drum structure, allowing 10 kg of laundry and a separate 10 kg load of clothing to be processed simultaneously. The product is scheduled for release in summer 2027 and proposes a new workflow in which washing and drying proceed in parallel.
AQUA’s “Straight Drum,” newly equipped with an Oxy Wash course, was also showcased. At approximately 40°C, the machine assists with pretreating clothing using OxiClean and detergent. The presentation also introduced possibilities for design and custom-color offerings, including a special BRONZE GOLD edition.