Japanese Advances in Robotics

At Tokyo's upscale Mitsukoshi Department Store, a crowd gathers near the entrance, captivated by an unusual sight. Originally a kimono shop from the late 17th century, Mitsukoshi now features a robot greeter named Aiko Chihira, dressed in traditional Japanese attire. Manufactured by Toshiba, Aiko is designed to look and move like a real human, fitting seamlessly into the store's rich history. Equipped with 43 motors, Aiko can perform tasks like moving, speaking in sign language, and even singing, eliciting reactions from amusement to bewilderment. Despite Aiko's capabilities, the regular human greeter, Ayako Seiryu, remains confident in her irreplaceable ability to communicate directly with people.

Ayako Seiryu emphasizes the importance of human interaction, something that Aiko currently lacks. Hitoshi Tokuda, a spokesperson for Toshiba, acknowledges this limitation but is optimistic about the future. He envisions a time when robots like Aiko could take over certain jobs, a prospect that is becoming more relevant as Japan faces a shrinking workforce. The country's businesses are increasingly turning to robots as a potential solution to this demographic challenge.

Beyond Mitsukoshi, robots are making their mark in other parts of Tokyo. During Japan's "Golden Week" holidays, the Vstone Robot Center in Akihabara displayed various robots, including the 4.3 feet-tall "Alcnon?"—a robot controlled by a remote handheld device, which shuffled about and made jerky punches with its claw-like arms. This center, run by Vstone Co., offers maintenance advice for robot owners and conducts robot-building workshops for children, nurturing the next generation of engineers.

Tokyo's Vstone Robot Center, the city's major store devoted to robots, sells a variety of robots, from Vstone products to the tiny Robo-Q from Tomy Co. and the Pleo animatronic dinosaur from the now-defunct Ugobe Inc. Naoto Osada, a teacher from Tokyo, highlighted Japan's technological finesse as he purchased a Robo-Q. The center also attracts tourists fascinated by robots like the dancing Tichno, which moves rhythmically to entertain visitors.

The Japanese government has made nurturing robotics research a key part of its growth strategy, projecting Japan's robotics business to grow to $62.6 billion by 2025. Despite their novelty, robots are seen as essential to addressing Japan's workforce challenges. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, for example, is testing "Nao," a multilingual customer service robot, and aims to expand its robotic staff by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, Softbank's humanoid robot "Pepper" is engaging customers in stores and is envisioned as a future "family robot."

However, the integration of robots into daily life is not without its challenges. Nobuo Yamato, chief of the Vstone Robot Center, believes Japan must do more to nurture future engineers if it hopes to maintain its edge in robotics technology. While robots like Honda's Asimo are advanced, their practical applications, such as elderly care and housework, remain distant dreams. Yamato estimates it may take another decade to deliver on these pragmatic uses, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation and development in the field of robotics.

References:

1. 262. “Japan Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics.” International Trade Administration | Trade.Gov, www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/japan-advanced-manufacturing-and-robotics.
   

2. “Robots Tested in Japan Companies.” CNN, Cable News Network, 19 Oct. 2016, www.cnn.com/2015/04/24/asia/japan-robots-work/index.html.