Robots sing backup for pop star

This recent video from Ed at Pink Tentacle and Fuji TV shows how Japanese easily warm to robots as entertainers. The song and dance trio is called Robo-Shūchishin and consists of Nobuko Naoki, aka Chi, and two Robonova-1 kit robots. Er, I can't wait for their CD to come out!

Recession? Not in robot land!

The recession hasn't killed Japanese robots - far from it! Two new robot shops have just opened in Tokyo, bringing the total to five. Both sell robot kits aimed at hobbyists who compete in tournaments as well as toys, videos and books. I checked them out the other day.

Vstone Robot Center is in the Akihabara electronics district, steps away from Akihabara Station. It's backed by Osaka-based machine parts firm Vstone and has two colorful humanoid robots on display. Manager Hideki Idaka (right) says the company opened the store regardless of the recession because parents and kids want robot kits. Its most popular product? Robovie-X, a bipedal kit robot that goes for about $700.

Located north of Akihabara Station along the JR tracks, Technologia just opened a few days ago; they still have congratulatory bouquets everywhere. It sells kit robots made by Kondo, Kyosho and other manufacturers as well as robot carrying cases and a ton of other goods. I was lucky enough to run into veteran robot tournament fighter Dr. GIY (left), who proudly showed me one of his lethal-looking creations while checking out the new shop.

Geek trivia:
Reports in Western media including the Associated Press have incorrectly stated that Vstone Robot Center is the only robot retailer in Tokyo.

Wrong! The two new shops bring the total to five, the other three being RT Corp., Tsukumo Robot Okoku (reopening this month following renovations) and Kondo Robo Spot.

Random sighting

Phone booth outside Nakano Station, Tokyo.