We felt we could solve the issue of low volunteer numbers by harnessing Japan’s superior robot technology.

We undertook a “robot as an aged-care volunteer” demonstration experiment in a residential neighborhood in Japan. The interactions were filmed and uploaded to the web. Through its warm contact with the elderly, we were able to prove that the robot has huge potential in this area.

This demonstration experiment was picked up by a variety of media across a range of mediums including online, print and TV, creating a huge amount of buzz. Pepper’s creators have begun preparing to release an aged-care Pepper. Furthermore, the Minister for Health, Labor and Welfare took the podium with Pepper at a charity event and called for “mutual assistance all round”.