My first contact with Pepper was at the Ferry terminal in Teshima, Japan, waiting for the boat to Inujima on the Inland Seas. Wait a minute. Let me step back a little.   I had seen him many times in Tokyo at store entrances but didn’t pay much attention, after all he was just a robot.

The waiting room was a quaint mixture of the old and the new.  Each chair had a colorful hand crocheted seat pad which looked like something you would see at your grandmothers house.  A massive kite with a painting of Japanese Samurai hung overhead, extending all the way to the ceiling of the building.   Just as I was debating whether or not to approach Pepper and ask him a question, a group of school children barged in and surrounded a small puppy that their teacher had brought along. They huddled together and each vied for the dog’s attention.  Pets are a rarity in Japan because homes are so small and afford no extra space. The noisy chatter and activity distracted me momentarily.

We still had another 30 minutes before the ferry would arrive and I was bored so I decided to engage Pepper in conversation.  I approached cautiously and asked “Do you speak English?” That may seem like a simple enough question, but in Japan almost NO ONE spoke any English.  It was a big surprise to me that it would be such a problem in this global industrialized country , but it was. He gently bowed his head and said simply “Yes“. The way his eyes moved, twinkling as he spoke, and his tone of voice, gentle and reassuring, put me at ease.  I felt an instant connection.

I knew before we went to Japan that I would be impressed by their aesthetic, the beauty of their shrines and gardens and the cleanliness of the country.  But what has stuck with me since my return is the feeling of compassion and respect  that I felt in each and every interaction, even with a robot.  “Pepper”, as he is called, was created by a Japanese company to fill in the gaps when humans are not available .  Because of low birth rate and a large percentage of people over 65, Japan stands to lose 30% of its population by the end of the century.

“Pleasant and likeable, Pepper is much more than a robot, he is a genuine humanoid companion created to communicate with you in the most natural and intuitive way, through his body movements and his voice.

Pepper can recognize your face, speak, hear you and move around autonomously.

Your robot evolves with you. Pepper gradually memorises your personality traits, your preferences, and adapts himself to your tastes and habits. 

Based on your voice, the expression on your face, your body movements and the words you use, Pepper will interpret your emotion and offer appropriate content.

He will also respond personally to the mood of the moment, expressing himself through the colour of his eyes, his tablet or his tone of voice.

A popular ROBOT SHOW in Tokyo mixes Anime  human figures and robotic creatures in extravagant Las Vegas style costumes  who gyrate amidst booming, super loud music.   It is billed as a “must see” to experience contemporary Japanese culture. And now here are robots which can  also be used as companions for elderly people who live alone. The contrast of traditional and futuristic go side by side in Japan.  From the public toilets with “options”, to the orderly nature of boarding and disembarking from public transportation, there is a sense that people matter.

Can you imagine having your own personal robot who understands your every mood and responds accordingly? This sounds like something I could definitely use. At $2000 it seems like quite a bargain, but is not yet available for sale outside of Japan.