Sharjah24 – AFP: Nami Hamaura says she feels less lonely working from home thanks to her singing companion Charlie, one of a new generation of cute and clever Japanese robots whose sales are booming in the pandemic.
Smart home assistants such as Amazon's Alexa have found success worldwide, but tech firms in Japan are reporting huge demand for more humanlike alternatives, as people seek solace during coronavirus isolation.
With socialising limited, life in her first job at a Tokyo trading company was nothing like she had imagined.
- 'Every object has a soul' -
Sharp said sales of its small humanoid Robohon were up 30 percent in the three months to September 2020 compared with a year earlier.
But the adorable android -- first released in 2016 and only available in Japan -- does not come cheap, with regular models priced between $820 and $2,250.
Charlie and Robohon are part of a new wave of robot companions pioneered by firms such as Sony with its robot dog Aibo, on sale since 1999, and SoftBank's friendly Pepper, which hit shelves in 2015.
Yukai's robots include Qoobo, a fluffy pillow with a mechanical tail that wiggles like a real pet.
They will soon release their latest home assistant "Bocco emo", which looks like a miniature snowman and allows families to leave and send voice messages through their phones.
anufacturer Groove X said monthly sales shot up more than tenfold after the coronavirus hit Japan.
A single Lovot costs around $2,800, plus fees for maintenance and software -- but those without deep pockets can visit the "Lovot Cafe" near Tokyo instead.
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