Robots in Japan: A Brief History

What is a Robot?

Nowadays it is hard to define what exactly is a robot, and what is not. The line is blurry if we consider how some machines work independently even if they do not have a human-like shape. When you think about it, the concept is clear: metallic humanoid, able to move and perform daily life activities like us: walking, working, making jokes. Some imagine robots to be like Bender or even Terminator, others would give it more of an abstract shape like Star Wars’ AT-AT or R2-D2. Our views about robots have been changing depending on the era. In some countries robots have played an important cultural role. Where does the word ‘robot’ come from, anyway? And why is Japan so strongly associated with robots?

The word ‘robot comes’ from the Czech robota, drudge laborer, and was used for the first time in the Karel and Josef Čapek's science fiction melodrama entitled R.U.R. (Rossumovi Univerzální – Roboti Rossum's Universal Robots), published in 1920. The story involves, as some might have guessed, robots capable of feeling emotions rebelling against human cruelty, wanting to decide upon their destiny and fight for the freedom they deserve.

R.U.R., staging circa 1935 ©http://www.umich.edu/~engb415/literature/pontee/RUR/RURsmry.html

In 1924, R.U.R. was performed in Tokyo under the title Jinzō Ningen (Artificial Human). This event had a big influence on the Japanese culture. From the 1920s until present day in Japan robots have been cast as both threatening and helpful to humans, but mostly the latter. Today, whether benevolent or malevolent, the concept of robots has become closely associated in Japan not only in regard to technology but also animation, entertainment, and caregiving. In Western cultures, the idea of incorporating robots into society is less widespread as in Japan. The future coexistence of robots and humans creates the question: what role should the robots play and how should people live with them?

The Implementation of Robots into the Japanese Society

‘Karakuri Zui’ (‘Illustrated Compendium of Mechanical Devices’), by Hosokawa Hanzou, 1796. ©PHGCOM

Robots have been known in Japanese culture since a long time ago in the form of karakuri ningyō, which are considered to be the Japanese ancestors of robots. Karakuri ningyō refer to a variety of automats created during the 17th century which worked via clockwork mechanisms, that is with arrangements of gears and springs. Karakuri means ‘mechanism’ or ‘trick’, and ningyō means a puppet. The most popular were chahakobi ningyō, the miniature tea server, and the little archer, yumi-iri doji, which was made in the 19th century by Hisashige Tanaka, founder of the Toshiba Corporation. The main use of these automats was to entertain and surprise the audience by showing off their mechanic abilities, something astonishing at that time. After the first proto-robots appeared, the Japanese started to create new humanoids. As technology developed, the robotic industry introduced machines with more complex features allowing for interaction with humans. 

Tea-serving karakuri with mechanism, 19th century. National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo. ©World Imaging

A karakuri automaton, circa 1800. British Museum. ©PHGCOM

Japan is very well known in this technological field; introducing robots in different public domains could boost the economy and the quality of social life.  The question is, why do Japanese want to live alongside a robot?

Robots are ‘living things’ in the Shintō universe. Japanese cosmovision does not exclude nature from culture or society; they belong together, meaning that a human is equally part of this universe as any other living being. The idea is that the harmonic coexistence of all the world’s elements enhances it.

It is, however, not easy to harmoniously integrate robots into the Japanese society, although many attempts have been made so far. Some of the most popular robots were Honda’s ASIMO, Mitsubishi’s Wakamaru, Hitachi’s EMIEW, and SoftBank’s Pepper. They gained attention rapidly but then were abandoned over time, becoming nothing but attractions at museums such as Miraikan in Tokyo. 

The robot Pepper standing in a retail environment. ©Tokumeigakarinoaoshima

For example, Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, introduced Pepper as a personal emotional robot companion in 2014 aiming to turn it into the first humanoid robot able to assist Japanese households. It was equipped with different technologies such as multiple cameras, microphones, and sensors that allowed Pepper to make eye contact and respond to touch. However, all these features made it quite expensive, and Pepper did not even fulfill people’s expectations, since it responded only to specific preprogrammed cues, which were very limited when compared to the various facial and vocal expressions made by humans, so it did not perform that well as a companion and entertainer. Nowadays, Pepper can be found in some of SoftBank stores in Tokyo working as a promoter, but the customers can only interact with it by swiping on the iPad on its chest.

Japan designs robots for future use in various settings such as hospitals, offices, factories, and households. The implementation of robots into the public sphere is motivated by the work of research institutes, universities, corporations, and by political reasons. As for the politics, an increasing number of Japanese politicians believe that robots will help maintain an acceptable standard of living, since Japan faces such problems as a rapidly aging population, shrinking workforce, and resistance to migration. Japanese robotics companies, supported by the government and by the former Abe administration, are planning to create humanoid and animaloid robots to provide company and perform domestic tasks. Companionship robots are already well known and popular among the elder and children; for example, PARO used in care centers succeed in their role as cute pet companions reducing patient stress, stimulating interaction and socialization between patients and caregivers, improving their relaxation and motivation.

Cute Baby Seal Robot – PARO Theraputic Robot #DigInfo. ©Diginfo

Such robots are still in the prototype stage and their interaction with humans is linked to a very specific setting: shopping malls, science museums, department stores, nursing homes or hospitals. It is difficult to implement them in households since they need to be monitored.

However, a point to consider is that e.g. patients at healthcare institutions, such as individuals with cognitive problems and long-term residents do not agree to being treated by robots, showing preference towards ‘normal’ and ‘more trustworthy’ medical service.

While it is still hard to live along robots in the real world, in the anime and manga industry they seem to be hugely successful – possibly the best example we can draw here is Astro Boy created by Tezuka Osamu.

Robots in Japanese Popular Culture

After the aforementioned R.U.R. was performed in Tokyo in 1924, robots started to appear in manga and afterwards in anime in different forms and with different personalities: Gigantor, Doraemon or even Mazinger Z are characters known by many all around the world. Today’s adults spent their childhood reading the comic books or watching these shows after school. Some of these robots were heros such as Mazinger Z, who was saving the world from its enemy, Dr. Hell. Other stories were more friendly, such as the one of Doraemon and Nobita’s daily adventures – these were engraved deeply in our hearts and culture, explaining to the audience that not all robots are dangerous and we could somehow live together, helping and protecting each other from social issues that always affect society.

In Japan, one of the most beloved robots is Astro Boy, an amiable hero. Created in 1951 by the manga author Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy played an important role in portraying robots as friendly and human-like. In a futuristic world where robots coexist with humans, there is ‘Astro Boy’, a powerful android created by the Minister of Science, Dr. Tenma. He did it to replace his son Tobio, who died in an accident. Nevertheless, after realizing that the little android could not fill the void in his heart, Tenmu sells him to a circus. Some time later, a certain Professor Ochanomizu sees Astro performing and convinces the circus owner to give him up. Ochanomizu welcomes Astro as his son and notices that he can experience human emotions which drive him to fight for right and justice. Tezuka described Astro as a ‘reverse Pinocchio’ because he was the perfect robot who tried to become more human, that is more emotive and illogical.

The case of Astro Boy being human-like, a son, a hero and a friend shows the different ways in which a robot can be culturally perceived. As soon as it interacts with people it acquires roles depending on the relationship with the person or their needs. It seems reasonable to think about the possibility of coexisting with robots, because depending on the way we approach them, they will appear different to us: they could be heroes, companions or only sources of amusement.

Since robots are so embedded in Japanese popular culture, there are also many attempts made to attract foreigners with this industry. Tourists in Japan can experience robotics and AI at the Miraikan, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, which is an amazing experience, most of all because there you can personally see robots like ASIMO playing soccer or dancing to j-pop. Another robotic attraction is the Gundam statue in Odaiba, an 18-meter tall robot built in 2009 by the Green Tokyo Gundam Project. The statue represents the RX-78-2 Gundam, which is the titular mobile suit driven by the young pilot Amura Ray, the main character of the Mobile Suit Gundam anime. The robot is well known for having moving parts, such as the head and the equipment, which attracts many tourists to the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza Mall, where they can enjoy this small show every day.

Robots are continuously involved in various social fields in Japan, although they might have different shapes, features, personalities, and are implemented with different goals in mind. It is difficult to predict how successful their socialization might be, but as technology develops and the society changes while facing new issues, robots will certainly be there to lend us a hand.

Written by Manuel Jose Flores Aguilar