The metal design in the article is still more flexible and durable. I also assumed the Japanese version would be targeted at disaster situations and/or remote mountain areas and be more repairable, but the cost saving part seems to be a major selling point.
That video is three years old, although the item in question might be older of course. I remember reading about the Washing Machine Project a decade ago or so.
The clothes falling down from the upper half is described on the slides, so I assume the rotation isn't fast enough for the clothes to stick to the walls, or it has an elliptical rotor to make sure there a speed difference ?
https://youtu.be/iMOkxrdP6kY?si=HWf_Sb-zwk5Vi8ES
(sold for about 10,000 yens https://item.rakuten.co.jp/thanko/000000003846/)
The metal design in the article is still more flexible and durable. I also assumed the Japanese version would be targeted at disaster situations and/or remote mountain areas and be more repairable, but the cost saving part seems to be a major selling point.