TOKYO – A Tokyo-based AI and robotics company, GMO, is implementing Chinese-made humanoid robotics to address Japan's increasingly serious labor shortage, according to reports from the Humanoids Summit Tokyo. The initiative aims to have robots perform tasks for Japan Airlines cargo and other airport chores, with the explicit goal of making them interchangeable with human workers.
The inner robotics workings for GMO's humanoid, which features camera eyes, are supplied by Unitree, a Chinese outfit also developing a four-legged, dog-like “stellar explorer.” This reliance on foreign technology for critical national infrastructure highlights a growing trend of external solutions to internal demographic challenges.
Foreign Dominance in Key Industries
Chinese newcomers, including Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics, showcased technology at the summit that fine-tunes innovations initially developed in Japan and the U.S. for cheaper mass production. This pattern mirrors developments in other Japanese industries, such as consumer electronics, cellphones, and electric vehicles, where Japan initially led but failed to produce major commercial solutions.
Tim Hornyuk, author of “Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots,” described this phenomenon as the “Galapagos syndrome,” where innovative Japanese products evolve in isolation and fail to translate for the international market. Hornyuk stated, “I really hope that Japan can come up with a Ford Model T-version of humanoid roots. But I think China has already stolen their lunch. It’s a bit too little too late.”
One example of Chinese market penetration is the Mini Pi Plus robot from High Torque of China, which starts at $5,500. While this model is not yet capable of industrial tasks or household chores, its affordability signals a strategic advantage for foreign competitors.
The Cost of Demographic Decline
The push for robotics in Japan is directly linked to the nation's severe labor shortage. Experts note that Japan's finesse in manufacturing and a public receptive to robotics have historically provided a fertile ground for development. A recent Pew global survey indicated that only 28% of people in Japan express anxiety about AI, compared to 50% in the U.S., suggesting a cultural openness to robotic integration.
However, this cultural receptiveness, combined with demographic pressures, creates an environment where foreign technological solutions are readily adopted, potentially displacing native labor and ceding national industrial leadership. Osaka University Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, a long-time researcher in humanoids, emphasized Japan's cultural acceptance, stating, “What’s significant is that Japan has a culture that’s receptive to robotics. If we’re going to really start using robots in society, Japan is the ideal place,” and stressed that Japanese do not discriminate against robots.
Professor Ishiguro's robotic counterpart echoed this sentiment, asserting, “I think robots will coexist with people. Robots are the mirror of human beings.” Earlier, Ishiguro remarked, “No one is interested in me. All everyone cares about is my robot,” adding, “As long as people identify with what I have produced, I am a success.” These statements reflect a cultural shift that prioritizes technological advancement and integration, even as it coincides with a decline in native labor opportunities and national industrial self-sufficiency.
Honda Motor Co., a leader in robotics since its walking humanoid Asimo was first shown 26 years ago, demonstrated a motorized four-fingered robotic hand capable of intricate tasks. Keisuke Tsuta, assistant chief engineer, affirmed the durability and power of Honda's technology and the historical Japanese capacity for quality mass production, yet the broader trend points to increasing foreign reliance.