"Pepper," the humanoid robot by SoftBank Robotics, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's first mass-produced humanoid robot. (©Sankei)
A group of Japanese robotics developers and major electronics and semiconductor companies has begun developing a domestically produced humanoid robot, with mass production targeted by 2027.
The initiative reflects rising expectations that robotics can help address labor shortages, among other social issues.
For manufacturing powerhouses like Japan, Physical AI — the fusion of artificial intelligence and robotics — offers a field in which the country can capitalize on its strengths.
The government also plans to formulate an AI Robotics Strategy in fiscal year 2026 to support practical applications.
Fighting Workforce Decline
In July 2025, Waseda University, tmsuk, Murata Manufacturing, and others launched the collaborative organization, the Kyoto Humanoid Association (KyoHA), to advance humanoid robot development.
Following this, leading Japanese companies such as Renesas Electronics and Sumitomo Heavy Industries joined the effort. Each contributed its core technologies, from sensors, motors, and control microcontrollers, to help build a prototype by March 2026.
The initiative focuses on two humanoid robot types: a disaster response model and a research model. The disaster robot will stand around 250 centimeters (8.2 ft) tall and lift more than 50 kilograms (110lb), while the research robot will feature human-like proportions, 160–180 centimeters in height, and greater agility.
With Japan's working-age population shrinking due to declining births and an aging society, the labor force is expected to plateau in the near future.
Stricter overtime rules starting in 2024 have intensified labor shortages in construction and other sectors. Against this backdrop, demand is growing for robots that can supplement the workforce in essential industries.
Tech Hurdles Ahead
But despite progress, humanoid robots still face major technological challenges before they can match human performance.
Yoichi Takamoto, Chairman and Representative Director of tmsuk, a member of the collaborative group, stresses that "it will come down to data."
Humanoid robots gather information about their surroundings through sensors and adjust their movements accordingly. For practical use in spaces built for humans, the key lies in training AI with data gathered from a human viewpoint and refining its accuracy.
Japan was once at the forefront of humanoid robot development, with breakthroughs like Honda's bipedal robot ASIMO and Murata Manufacturing's bicycle-riding robot Murata Boy.
In recent years, however, dramatic AI advancements have propelled the United States and China ahead, leaving Japan trailing in the race.
Joining Forces for Innovation
To catch up, Japanese companies are joining forces in a collaborative organization that brings together the country's leading technological expertise in humanoid robotics. "This is Japan's last chance to build robots as a unified effort," Takamoto added.
The government is also preparing an AI robotics strategy to provide active support. Proposed measures include creating early demand in fields such as disaster response and infrastructure inspection, as well as developing skilled human resources.
Additionally, under the Cabinet Office's Moonshot R&D Program, the government is supporting efforts to develop a general-purpose humanoid AI prototype by 2030, providing necessary funding and other resources.
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Author: Katsutoshi Takagi, The Sankei Shimbun
(Read the article in Japanese)
