MetaFilter posts tagged with Japan and robot

Immigration or Robots?

Extopalopaketle — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:50:53 -0800

Japan is facing a demographic crisis that will shrink the population dramatically. The Japanese aren't having babies, and the country won't accept immigrants to help bolster the population. Japan: Robot Nation looks at a uniquely Japanese solution. Cheat: Robots come in at the 15 minute mark.

Military-Grade Moe-Anthropomorphism

mccarty.tim — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:30:08 -0800

Military equipment drawn as anime girls. Probably SFW, but good luck explaining it to the boss. Wikipedia explains.

A horror movie in the make

ikahime — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:17:46 -0800

More companion robots! Another in a series (see PARO, previously) of healing toys for Japan's rapidly greying population, Yumel the Healing Partner from Tomy. Like some kind of unholy cross between a Cabbage Patch Kid and Teddy Ruxpin, you can see a promotional clip of the doll here, or read a list of translated stock phrases (thank you Harper's). Also, an interesting article from the Economist about WHY the Japanese love robots so. (Hint: it's Shinto)

PARO

gottabefunky — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:30:39 -0800

PARO: Seal Type Mental Commit Robot for Psychological Enrichment.

Garada K7 Jumbo Machinder

tellurian — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:51:29 -0800

Cheap 1.7 million yen toy. When Keiko Nakamoto of the Ishikawa prefecture came across an old vinyl robot covered in a thick layer of dust, she had no idea that she had unearthed only the third known specimen of an item described by Tokyo toy dealers as "the most sought-after item in Japan." From ToyboxDX [toy robot goodness].

THE TRUE FIGHT WILL BEGIN FROM NOW!!

40 Watt — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 08:51:01 -0800

NEGADON!! "NEGADON - the Monster from Mars" is a "digital monster film", a film for the future. Similar in execution to the short film which eventually spawned "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow", Negadon is a 100% computer-generated short which has been cleverly designed to look like the old Japanese man-in-the-rubber-suit monster movies of the 50's. Even the posters look the part.

Robot Friend Ancient Music Fish

dfowler — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 07:57:16 -0800

With My Special Partner, I can drink my way back to the 7th Millenium BCE for ancient music, and the fish’ll tell me how to get home .

Just in time for Mother's Day

planetkyoto — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 16:42:28 -0800

Star Wars geeks lined up months in advance blocking the door to your favorite taqueria? Clear the sidewalks with your new Imperial Walker (.wmv) from Sakakibara Machine Co. of Gunma, Japan.

The Atom Project

Pinwheel — Wed, 20 Aug 2003 08:38:37 -0800

So the Japanese, still firmly plunged in the midst of their very own "Great Depression," are considering a proposal that would have the government spend 50 billion yean a year over three decades to develop a humanoid robot with the mental, physical and emotional capacity of a 5-year-old human. The proposed name of this venture? The Atom project, named after the Japanese cartoon character known to Americans as "Astro Boy."

kokogiak — Tue, 26 Mar 2002 13:29:50 -0800

Robot Guard Dogs - two new types of robo-dog on their way to market (in Japan) next year from Sanyo (the T7S Type 1 and Type 2) About 3 feet long, 80 pounds of Aibo-style security for $750. Cool factor - their onboard CCD cameras and cell phones can watch for intruders and beam images to your own 3G phone.

riffola — Tue, 25 Jul 2000 07:38:14 -0800

Here's what I want for my next birthday... but I'd like to accessorize it StarSeige/MechWarriors style.