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Adorable, Approachable Androids? New Japanese Takes on Robotic Companions

  • From atop the reception counter, Moflin welcomes visitors to the R&D Center. (© Nippon.com)

    From atop the reception counter, Moflin welcomes visitors to the R&D Center. (© Nippon.com)

  • Ichikawa cradles a Moflin, roughly the size of a guinea pig, in one hand. (© Nippon.com)

    Ichikawa cradles a Moflin, roughly the size of a guinea pig, in one hand. (© Nippon.com)

  • The developers aimed to create a “buddy.” (© Casio)

    The developers aimed to create a “buddy.” (© Casio)

  • Mirumi. (© Yukai Engineering Inc.)

    Mirumi. (© Yukai Engineering Inc.)

  • CEO Aoki poses with a Mirumi. On the left on the table is Qoobo, a cushion robot with a tail, and on the right is Petit Qoobo. They wag their tails when you stroke them. In the center are fox- and panda-shaped Amagami Ham Ham models. (© Nippon.com)

    CEO Aoki poses with a Mirumi. On the left on the table is Qoobo, a cushion robot with a tail, and on the right is Petit Qoobo. They wag their tails when you stroke them. In the center are fox- and panda-shaped Amagami Ham Ham models. (© Nippon.com)

  • Mirumi. (© Yukai Engineering Inc.)

    Mirumi. (© Yukai Engineering Inc.)

  • Okada Michio, professor emeritus at Toyohashi University of Technology. (© Nippon.com)

    Okada Michio, professor emeritus at Toyohashi University of Technology. (© Nippon.com)

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