Sharp Launches ¥59,400 Karada Mate Watch With Passive Calorie Sensing in Japan

1 articles · Updated · Tech Times · Jul 4

July 9 marks the Japan debut of Sharp’s first smartwatch, priced at ¥59,400 ($370), with a wrist sensor that estimates calories consumed without food logs, barcode scans or meal photos.
HEALBE’s FLOW technology infers glucose absorption from bioelectrical impedance changes at the wrist, aiming to show a running calorie balance that includes energy drawn from stored fat.
Accuracy remains the key question: Sharp says the watch must be worn 22 to 23 hours a day, with up to two weeks of continuous use needed to build a reliable baseline.
Independent results on earlier HEALBE devices were mixed, ranging from roughly 10% deviation in one test to severe undercounting in another; alcohol, ketogenic diets, fasting and some medications can also skew readings.
Sharp paired the watch with a ¥41,800 smart ring and a ¥600-a-month app plan, signaling a broader health-platform push in Japan rather than a standalone wearable launch.