Japan to start selling human-like robots next year

SoftBank Corp. Chief Executive Masayoshi Son (R) waves with the company's human-like robots named 'pepper' during a news conference in Urayasu, east of Tokyo. Son announced the plan at a news conference on Thursday, the robot will go on sale to public in Japan from February 2015, which price is about 198,000 yen

Reuters/TokyoJapan's SoftBank Corp  said on Thursday it will start selling human-like robots for personal use by February, expanding into a sector seen key to addressing labor shortages in one of the world's fastest ageing societies. The robots, which the mobile phone and Internet conglomerate envisions serving as baby-sitters, nurses, emergency medical workers or even party companions, will sell for 198,000 yen ($1,900) and are capable of learning and expressing emotions, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son told a news conference. A prototype will be deployed this week, serving customers at SoftBank mobile phone stores in Japan, he added. The sleek, waist-high robot, named Pepper, accompanied Son to the briefing, speaking to reporters in a high-pitched, boyish voice. "People describe others as being robots because they have no emotions, no heart. For the first time in human history, we're giving a robot a heart, emotions," Son said. Japan's population is one of the most rapidly ageing in the world and the government hopes companies can offset a decline in the labour force by utilising robotics.