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Back in 2024, an odd video began circulating online demonstrating an “anti-cheating bra” developed in Japan. It showed a Japanese student demonstrating what many called a “smart bra” or “anti-cheating bra.” The bra appeared to stay locked until it recognized a fingerprint of the wearer’s spouse or partner. However, this invention, according to its creator, is just a once-off prototype, meant for comedic relief. 

Viral Claim of the Smart Bra

The video first appeared on Japanese social media in mid-2024. It featured a bra clasp rigged with fingerprint recognition technology. Screenshots and clips spread quickly, with captions in English and Japanese claiming it prevented infidelity. Many posts described it as a bra that would only unlock with a registered partner’s fingerprint. Some viewers applauded the technology, while others criticized it for enforcing gender stereotypes.

Social Media Reactions

Red Brassiere on White Textile
Credit: Pexels

The video demonstrates how the bra worked: A hand pressed a finger against a small device mounted on the bra clasp. Once scanned, the clasp would then be unlocked. Without fingerprint approval, it stayed shut. The invention quickly went viral on Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube. One Instagram reel attracted more than 135,000 likes, captioned, “It only opens when your boyfriend’s fingerprint is recognized.” TikTok influencers shared the clip, believing it and promoting it as if it were a commercially available product.

However, while the footage itself is genuine, its inventor has stated that this is just a “fantasy invention” created as a joke. While the technology is experimental and once-off, its implications and commentary on gender roles has sparked debate amongst users on social media. This technology opens up debates about a woman’s bodily autonomy, whether this demeans women, labelling them as unfaithful and needing to be controlled by their spouses.

Fact-Check and Reality

Despite its wide circulation, the product never reached commercial shelves. The bra was real, but it was purely experimental. The inventor who built it confirmed it was a prototype and nothing more. He called it a “fantasy invention” designed to make people laugh. He stressed that no company had invested in turning it into a real product. The inventor himself is a self-described “delusional inventor” known for creating fantastical or funny inventions. Similar projects, called chindogu in Japan, intentionally create absurd inventions not meant for mass use. 

Origins of the Invention

The bra was first posted on July 19, 2024, by a Japanese creator using the handle ZAWAWORKS. His X caption, written in Japanese, stated: “I invented a ‘fingerprint recognition bra’ to prevent cheating. Now only your boyfriend can remove your bra!”

Responding to comments, he even joked by suggesting men could gift it to girlfriends or wives. He later posted longer videos on his YouTube and TikTok accounts. On his website, he confirmed the device’s function but repeated that it was novelty-based.

Technology Used

In another post, he commented on which technologies he used to build the device. For the mechanism, he used an M5Stack Hat Finger module, a fingerprint recognition kit that is available for purchase online. This kit connects to a small programmable microcontroller, allowing it to scan and compare prints. 

Once the correct fingerprint registers, it triggers the lock to open. Similar technology exists in smartphones, safes, and security systems. Using it in clothing, however, was highly unusual. ZAWAWORKS emphasised that this invention was a once-off and part of his content creation. “I create funny content and post the videos on X and YouTube every Friday, to make people laugh,” he told Snopes in 2024. 

About the Inventor

The creator identifies himself as a “delusional inventor.” His real name is Yuki Aizawa, based in Japan. He produces humorous gadgets that exaggerate adolescent fantasies or explore absurd design ideas. On his website, he explains that his inventions appear at comedy shows, art exhibitions, and online platforms. 

He posts new creations each week, aiming to surprise and entertain. Aizawa embraces the tradition of blending comedy with engineering. His style recalls the Japanese concept of chindogu, meaning “unusual tools.” These inventions deliberately resist practicality in favor of highly creative thinking. 

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Other Creations

ZAWAWORKS has created numerous funny and absurd devices before the invention of the smart bra. His website and YouTube showcase his other equally bizarre and eccentric devices. These range from “a device that cuts only underwear”, a “breastfeeding cigarette,” and even a “boobs keyboard”. The “boobs keyboard” is a functional computer keyboard made in the shape of breasts. It emits a moaning sound as you type using the nipples of the device. 

ZAWAWORKS projects are exhibited at comedy shows and contests in Osaka, Japan. In an email to Snopes, he mentioned that his work has been part of exhibitions and has done solo exhibitions. However, the smart bra has yet to be publicly displayed.  

Conclusion

While the “anti-cheating bra” fascinated millions, it was never more than an entertaining invention. Its inventor combined engineering equipment with a playful concept to create digital humor. Though impractical, it inspired debates about relationships, privacy, and gender roles. Inventors like ZAWAWORKS continue to test the border between comedy and engineering. Though you cannot buy his smart bra, the invention remains symbolic. The use of fingerprinting technology in absurd and unconventional ways could push the boundaries of how we use wearable tech.

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