We Love Robots! written in Japanese calligraphy.
The word “robot” first appeared in the Czechoslovakian writer Karel Čapek’s 1921 play, R.U.R., an anti-capitalist allegory in which robots are brought in to replace factory workers, but ultimately rise up and revolt against the human bosses. From that terrifying beginning up through movies such as 2001 and Terminator, robots have been portrayed in Western media as heartless enemies of mankind.
Not so in Japan, where comics and anime such as Doraemon have demonstrated that a boy’s best friend is his robot. Perhaps that is why the Japanese are ready to welcome robots into their lives. Tokyo recently hosted the International Robot Exhibition, where presented industrial factory robots alongside mechanical office receptionists, as well as The Great Robot Exhibition, where Honda unveiled the latest generation of Asimo.
Asimo is a humanoid robot ready to become a part of the family, able to offer physical assistance to the elderly, run errands for mom and dad, and practice soccer with junior. At the entrance to The Great Robot Expo was a large hanging scroll. It read, in beautifully flowing traditional Japanese calligraphy: “We love robots!”