When they think of Japan, many people think of robots. One visitor from the Middle East told me that from a young age they had grown up watching Grendizer. Someone from Asia whom I met just the other day said they loved Doraemon, and some visitors from the United States are fans of Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28. The Gundam statue in Odaiba has become a popular landmark.
     In Japan robots are becoming an increasingly common sight in a variety of situations. It is no longer unusual to see autonomous mobile security robots at airports and railway stations or service robots at family restaurants. The Henn na Hotel chain has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s first robot-staffed hotels where robots serve guests. At these hotels robots take care of almost all tasks. From check-in to check-out, you can complete your stay without talking to any human being at all. The robots in the reception speak four languages.
     In the field of industrial robots, which were originally developed in the United States but came to support Japan’s economic growth, Japan now boasts an unshakeable position as a leading player. In 2023 Japan-made products had an approximately 32% share of the world market. The scope of robot activities is steadily expanding as well to such areas as medicine, care, and logistics.