And while Tokyo’s major investment goal may be practical, robotics is also prestigious, giving Japan’s big technology companies a global showcase for their cutting-edge research capabilities.

TOKYO (Reuters) - In August, a robot vaguely resembling a kangaroo will begin stacking sandwiches, drinks and ready meals on shelves at a Japanese convenience store in a test its maker ...

A Japanese artificial intelligence startup has launched a robot for home use capable of delivering items in response to verbal commands, such as bringing dishes and condiments to the dining room table ...

Robots turn off senior citizens in aging Japan Elderly people prefer practical, easy-to-use products over complicated high-tech gadgetry.

Indeed, Japan’s lead in advanced robotics for health care is driven by its demographic conundrum. More than most, the nation’s population is shrinking and aging rapidly.

How we view robots – and the inevitable robotics revolution that we’ve been promised for so long – depends largely on our background.