I have a Japanese machine that is really cute, but has a really musty odor. I've removed it from the case and am working on the case. I now have cat litter in it, which hasn't helped much. I just bought a bag of charcoal to try. "They" say that worst comes to worst, put it in the car with the windows rolled up. The heat is supposed to bake out the smell, apparently. I'm in Texas, so I'll have that option, in spades, in a few months.
What amazes me is that the machine stinks, too. It's metal, so you would think that it would not absorb odors.
bkay