Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots

by Timothy N. Hornyak

Japan stands out for its long love affair with humanoid robots, a phenomenon that is creating what will likely be the world's first mass robot culture. While U.S. companies have produced robot vacuum cleaners and war machines, Japan has created warm and fuzzy life-like robot therapy pets.
While the U.S. makes movies like "Robocop" and "The Terminator," Japan is responsible for the friendly Mighty Atom , Aibo and Asimo . While the U.S. sponsors robot-on-robot destruction contests, Japan's feature tasks that mimic nonviolent human activities. The Steven Spielberg film, "AI," was a
disaster at the world box office-except in Japan, where it was a huge hit. Why is this? What can account for Japan's unique relationship with robots as potential colleagues in life, rather than as potential adversaries? Loving the Machine attempts to answer this fundamental query by looking at
Japan's historical connections with robots, its present fascination and leading technologies, and what the future holds. Through in-depth interviews with scientists, researchers, historians, artists, writers and others involved with or influenced by robots today, author Timothy N. Hornyak looks at
robots in Japan from the perspectives of culture, psychology and history, as well as technology; and brings understanding to an endlessly evolving subject. From the Edo-period humanoid automatons, through popular animation icons and into the high tech labs of today's researchers into robotic action
and intelligence, the author traces a fascinating trail of passion and development.

Genres: Nonfiction, Japan, Science

159 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2006

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many would think the Japanese’s affinity for all things robotic would have come from their post-World War II science fiction-oriented manga and animé boom. But, in this beautifully illustrated book, we learn that their openness to the idea of having robotic companions can be traced to the 18th century and is deeply rooted in a cultural belief that even inanimate objects contain a type of spirit.

[Mloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative book. The initial attraction was that there was an entire chapter dedicated to Anime, so already, I'm sold. An added bonus was the prime inspiration for robotics in Japan was a character from an early comic strip, who just so happens was also near and dear to my heart: Mighty Atom, or in my case I knew him better as "Astro Boy".
***Spoilers****
It was also interesting learning about the history of Japan's early robots, the "karakuri". The purpose for the karakuri was simple, it was for entertainment. A novelty at most, to be a tea-server, but what's really impressive was its mechanism, which was ingenious. First, the host places a cup of tea on the karakuri's tray, winds it so that it travels the distance between the host and the guest. When the guest picks up the cup, drinks the tea and then replaces the cup back on the karakuri's tray, the mechanism inside the karakuri, turns it around and sends it back to the host. Entertaining and absolutely clever; even though the karakuri were completely constructed solely out of wooden materials, without the benefit of modern technology or materials, and basically was a reworked clock, the karakuri was simply an amazing invention and truly inspired. Reading through the motives for Japan's unquenchable obsession to advance in the field of robotics was also enlightening. The intentions is not as sinister as one would initially think—maybe like the T-800, T-850 or T-101, Japan plans to create a robotic army of super soldiers or like in so many Anime, a mecha that can be used for defending the country or worse, inciting war. Instead, their reasons leans more towards the practical, if not noble one (at least as it is relayed in the book). A large segment of Japan's population is now entering their golden years and leaving their jobs, many of which were in manufacturing. So, in order to fill the void left by the retirees, companies view machines as the most logical and economical solution to replenish their depleted workforce. Also, to ensure that the current aging generation, as well as future retirees receive the adequate care they need, the government has enlisted the aid of robots, to not only assist healthcare providers in performing their tasks but help patients in recovery (there’s a chapter that mentions Paro, the cute, animatronic, baby seal). Perhaps one of the more emotionally stirring reasons that the book sites was for robots to serve not only as household helpers, but also companions, to help deter loneliness especially for the elderly living alone or empty-nesters, whose (grown) children live far from home and doesn’t often visit. Eventually, Japan aim for every household in the world to have their own personal robots, like (almost) every home has or has access to a personal computer or cell phones, much like in the film “I, Robot”. It was truly fascinating how far along Japan (and some other parts of the world) had come in developing robots, how exciting it would be to see a real fully functional android in the not so distant future, and that would be a time I could only wish I live long enough to witness.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly creepy survey of modern robot technology served-up in a coffee-table format. Great illustrations and insight into the history of robot-lore as well as the actual technology.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a picture book, but I did learn a thing or two on the history of Japanese robots.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked looking at the pictures of robots. I also like learning about the history of robots in Japanese
menga and anime. And it was fascinating to read about karakuri dolls. I also learning about the different way Japanese look at robots. What else do I want to write. I think its a solid book.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just a really broad look at robots in Japanese culture, but it's kind of fun despite the lack of much detail. It's filled with lots of colorful pictures (though some were mysteriously in black and white for no reason I could tell), so it's a great book to just flip through and read whatever catches your eye. The range of topic is interesting since it starts with simple clockwork automatons, visits fictional robots like Astro Boy and the Gundam, and moves on to finish with Japanese developments of various kinds of robots like androids and soccer playing robots.

[Smellsofbikes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, sometimes informative, very colorful overview of the place of robots in Japanese culture and current consumer/consumer-oriented Japanese robotics production.