Robotics roadmaps from around the world spotlight of the month: Japan

google — robots have been a prolific theme in Japanese pop culture and media since the 1950s, which includes global icons like the Transformers, Astro Boy, and Doraemon (1). Perhaps not coincidentally, Japanese citizens have a positive outlook on robotic technologies and their use in the labor sector compared to many other nations (2); much to their advantage, as robotics continues to be a vital pillar for ensuring Japan’s economic resilience and future growth.

Here, we discuss priorities and long-term agendas as presented in Japan’s national robotics strategies. Natural disasters, aging, and economic competition The combination of its geographic location, geologically active landmass, and topography renders Japan prone to frequent natural disasters. Although weather control is among Japan’s lofty research goals for the next 25 years (3), geological disturbances remain inevitable. As such, disaster mitigation and response are high priorities that serve as motivation for robotics development in Japan (4). Intelligent machines are expected to expedite disaster response and search-and-rescue, while minimizing exposure of workers and volunteers to unnecessary hazards – a notable reminder being the 2011 Fukushima Disaster (5). Aging workforce is a second pressing issue. Japan is currently the oldest demographic nation, defined as of 2007 as a “super-aged” society with nearly a third of citizens aged 65 or older (6). According to government roadmaps (4), Japan views robotic development as a crucial tool for preventing a GDP collapse due to the rapid labor shortage, specifically in services like healthcare, elderly assistance, and manual labor. Unlike countries which opt for immigration reform for addressing fluctuation in labor markets, Japan maintains historically tight immigration regulations. A strong preference towards preserving traditional values may influence their massive investments towards shifting to a robotic workforce (7). Japan has a mature robotics industry, claiming the title of the largest manufacturer and exporter of industrial robots for the last half century (8). 45% of the global supply originated from Japan in 2022, with nearly an 80% export rate to countries such as EU members, the USA, and China (9). However, the combination of economic decline and competition from oversea manufacturing present the challenge of maintaining leadership in the global value chain. Leveraging their specialty in robotics hardware design is crucial to maintain a competitive edge in the global economy. Society 5.0 Japan is betting on bold technological solutions for ensuring the prosperity of their future society.