Focusing on Body Acupoints: The Unique Technology Behind the So-Called Wearable Medical Device "Relive Shirt α"

Many people might have resigned themselves to the morning sluggishness, the heaviness felt towards the evening, and the stiffness in the muscles of the back and shoulders as just "the way it is." But what if these issues could be reduced, allowing you to be more active comfortably?

In recent years, a kind of wear that fulfills such wishes has been gaining attention. This is the "Relive Shirt α" offered by Relive Co., Ltd. It distinguishes itself from mere relaxation clothing with a new concept that "expects to promote blood circulation, improve muscle firmness and stiffness, and recover/improve fatigue" while being worn.

What kind of item is it, exactly? We asked Takashi Sasaki, the CEO, about the product's features and the background of its creation.

Approach Muscle Stiffness with Unique Print Processing

Working for long periods in the same posture or repeating movements that strain the body—such burdens eventually lead some to feel weighed down by their own body. It is said that poor blood circulation is one cause of such muscle stiffness in areas like the shoulders and waist.

What if donning a shirt could alleviate this chronic issue?

The Relive Shirt α brings this wish to life. Although it looks like an ordinary shirt, it employs "Indirect Taping®︎ Technology" which involves placing special ink—comprising minerals like tourmaline and terahertz made into fine particles—at specific sections of the shirt.

It can support your body's movements as though you were taped, just by wearing it.

Tourmaline possesses the property of radiating far infrared rays generated by body heat. Radiation refers to the mechanism of reflecting the far infrared rays emitted by the body and transmitting them back to it. Due to this radiation working on muscles through clothing and the expectation of enhanced blood circulation, a notification has been filed as a general medical device.

"By improving blood flow, muscle firmness and stiffness issues can also be expected to improve," says Sasaki.

The major point of the Relive Shirt α is the placement of minerals along the body's acupoints. It is not simply a matter of mixing a lot of minerals into the shirt overall—there exists an optimal placement and amount to support the human body's performance. The placement of these minerals is critical to "Indirect Taping®︎ Technology."

However, as acupoint locations vary slightly from person to person, targeting them precisely is challenging. How was this overcome?

"After years of research and trial and error, we deduced a 'greatest common denominator position' that is expected to be effective for a majority," Sasaki explains. "We recommend choosing a size that considers the chest width and matches your height at the time of purchase."

The meticulously calculated unique print processing properly emits far infrared rays. That is the secret to supporting muscle firmness and stiffness improvement, and fatigue recovery and improvement, just by wearing it.

Many voices expressing expectations such as "concern over shoulder and back stiffness" or "want to be active wearing Relive wear" have been heard.

There was even an instance where a user, moved by the effect, purchased it as a present for their mother who had become less physically mobile and sent a video of her wearing the Relive wear.

Driven by the Desire to "Help People"

At present, the Relive Wear series includes a diverse lineup beyond general medical devices like "Relive Shirt α" and "Relive Spats α," featuring items like spats and pajamas. Each product has a different mineral arrangement according to the body's posture when worn. For example, pajamas have minerals arranged along flowing lines on the back, while pants are designed with minerals following the thighs' lines—focused on "lying down."

The product has achieved explosive success, with over 3 million units sold in total (from July 1, 2019, to April 30, 2025), but the journey to get here was far from smooth.

Through countless trials involving types of minerals, compatibility, and effective placement, the predecessor to the Relive Shirt α, known as the "Relive Shirt," was born. However, in the first three years after its release, it hardly sold at all. Nonetheless, Sasaki did not give up.

"I've worked on a variety of projects, including supporting entrepreneurs and the elderly, but a common denominator has always been helping people in need. The Relive Shirt can aid many people with their troubles. It was this belief that allowed me to keep moving forward without giving up," he explained.

After appearing on the YouTube show "Reiwa no Tora," Relive Wear gained significant attention. Today, it is available in about 500 stores nationwide.

From Japan to the World: The Future as Envisioned by Relive

"It's rare to find something so helpful that doesn't depend on who wears it," Sasaki passionately discusses the potential of Relive Wear.

"In Japan, we are advancing efforts towards the '100-year life era.' If caregiving becomes necessary, it requires a lot of people's money and time, so ideally, everyone should stay healthy and active. I'm striving to make that a reality."

The desire to "stay healthy and active" is not unique to Japanese people. Relive Wear is not only focusing on the domestic market but also looking towards international expansion.

Current efforts are first concentrated on Southeast Asia, although numerous challenges exist for overseas expansion.

"Each region has different demographics and issues, so approaches must vary accordingly. There are also income disparities, with some areas having monthly incomes as low as 50,000-60,000 yen. We need to consider what price range and products would be suitable for such regions."

Sasaki's eyes are set on the future. To contribute to a foundation allowing people worldwide to lead healthy and active lives, Relive Wear will continue to evolve further.