Blab [Press Release] B Lab Launches the “Tomodachi Robot Project”! As the first event in the series, a symposium will be held on Saturday, October 12. 
| B Lab (an iU research institute headed by Nanako Ishido; hereinafter “B Lab”) is launching the “Tomodachi Robot” project, which offers a new perspective on the relationship between robots and humans and explores a future where technology and humans converge—not only through technical innovation but also from social and cultural perspectives. |
| Thanks to advances in AI and robotics, robots have transcended their role as mere tools and are now capable of serving as friends to humans.Japan occupies a unique position globally regarding the presence of tomodachi robots. This project aims to explore the potential for tomodachi robots to integrate into human lives as friends and to disseminate these ideas both domestically and internationally. As the first initiative, a symposium titled “Tomodachi Robot Kickoff Event” will be held on Saturday, October 12. |
| ■ Symposium Overview |
| Symposium: “Tomodachi Robot Kickoff Event” |
| The event will feature a performance of THE★ROBOTS dance by aibo, Romi, Pepper, Robohon, BOCCO emo, and PALRO, as well as a panel discussion on the relationship between robots and humans in Japan. |
| With the rapid evolution of AI and robotics, robots are expected to transcend their role as mere tools for task assistance and become integral parts of human life.This project proposes the concept of robots coexisting with humans as “friends,” aiming to enhance their social value while exploring new application areas for products and technologies. Please look forward to this event, where leading Japanese companies that share this vision will gather to engage in discussions that transcend organizational boundaries! |
| Click here to register |
| ■ Date & Time: October 12, 2024, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM ■ Location: Tokyo Port City Takeshiba, Port Plaza (1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo) ■ Note: Held as part of “Chomorrow 2024” ■ Admission: Free ■ Speakers (titles omitted): ・Shunsuke Aoki (CEO, Yukai Engineering Co., Ltd.) ・Tomomi Ota (Assistant Professor, Osaka College of Music): Robot Friendly Project ; Michio Okada (ICD-LAB / Professor, Toyohashi University of Technology): Weak Robots ; Miho Kagei (General Manager, Robot Solutions Division, Communications Business Headquarters, Sharp Corporation) ・Hideyuki Takahashi (Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University): Robots That Do Nothing ・Rie Naoi (ROS-SI Promotion Section, Chief Scientist Office, Technology Unit, SoftBank Corp.) ・Teru Nagaoka (Manager, BizDev & Design Group, Romi Division, Vantage Studio, MIXI, Inc.) ■ Facilitator: Nanako Ishido (Director, B Lab) |
| THE★ROBOTS |
| This unit was formed through collaboration among robots from companies that share the goal of human-robot coexistence. They typically perform scheduled dance routines at “Pepper PARLOR,” a café and dining venue operated by SoftBank Robotics in Shibuya. Thanks to the cooperation of each company, they will also be performing a dance routine at this event. The unit consists of the following robots: |
| ・Entertainment robot “aibo”: Sony Group Corporation |
| ・Humanoid robot “PALRO”: Fujisoft Inc. |
| ・Humanoid robot “Pepper”: SoftBank Robotics Corp. |
| ・Family robot “BOCCO emo”: Yukai Engineering Co., Ltd. |
| ・Mobile robot “RoBoHoN”: Sharp Corporation |
| ・Conversational AI robot “Romi”: MIXI, Inc. |
| *“aibo” is a registered trademark of Sony Group Corporation. *“PALRO” is a registered trademark of Fujisoft Inc. *“Pepper” is a registered trademark of SoftBank Robotics Corp. *“BOCCO emo” is a registered trademark of Yukai Engineering Co., Ltd. *“RoBoHoN” is a registered trademark of Sharp Corporation. *“Romi” is a registered trademark of MIXI, Inc. |
| ■ Tomodachi Robot Project: Activities |
| The “Tomodachi Robot” Project offers a new perspective on the relationship between robots and humans, exploring a future where technology and humanity converge—not only through technical innovation but also from social and cultural perspectives. |
| [Project Activities] |
| 1. Building and Promoting New Relationships Between Robots and Humans |
| We will organize and analyze the history of coexistence between robots and humans in Japan and promote Japanese robot culture worldwide. We will also provide opportunities for countries with different cultural backgrounds to rethink the relationship between robots and humans. |
| 2. Realizing Well-being Through Robots |
| We will build a bridge between robots and human emotional needs to contribute to human mental well-being. Specifically, we will work to utilize and popularize robots as one solution to address loneliness and alienation in modern society. Through this, we hope to explore new forms of human relationships and bring a new dimension of richness to people’s lives. |
| <Project Members> |
| ・RoboHon |
| ・Romi |
| ・Amagami Ham Ham |
| ・ BOCCO emo |
| ・Pepper |
| ・Sharp Corporation (Miho Kagei, Toshiyuki Kamei, Yuko Iwakoshi) |
| ・MIXI, Inc. (Teru Nagaoka, Mina Miyoshi, Ayu Yuki) |
| ・Yukai Engineering Co., Ltd. (Shunsuke Aoki, Tsubasa Tominaga, Mai Yabumoto) |
| ・ SoftBank Robotics Corp. (Tomoyuki Moriyama) |
| ・SoftBank Corp. (Rie Naoi) |
| ・Seishi Takahashi (CEO, Bye Bye World): Applause Robot |
| ・Tomomi Ota (Assistant Professor, Osaka College of Music): Robot Friendly Project |
| ・Michio Okada (ICD-LAB / Professor, Toyohashi University of Technology): Weak Robot |
| ・Hideyuki Takahashi (Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University): The “Do-Nothing” Robot ・Nanako Ishido (B Lab): The “Tomodachi” Robot |
| ■Overview of B Lab |
| “B Lab,” an acronym for Beyond, Borderless, and Breakthrough, is a participatory platform that—though billed as a research institute—connects universities, research institutes, communities, and talent from around the world to fuse the unique skills and insights of many people, thereby creating new technologies, services, content, businesses, and societies.While its scope is broad—encompassing technology development, solving social issues, and creating new services—the common thread is social implementation and the idea of creating things together. Fathers, mothers, grandmothers, and children—everyone is a researcher. Become a “Lifelong Seeker” and carry a second “researcher” business card. We aim to build a new society where everyone—including users—connects in a social, open, and participatory way; matches challenges, ideas, technologies, funding, skills, and people; and collectively creates an exciting future through both small and large-scale innovations. |
| <Related LINK> https://www.blaboratory.org/ |
Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
Director, B Lab
Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
Chairperson, CANVAS
After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”
