"Robots for Revitalization": the sociotechnical imaginary of service robots in Japan

Abstract

Japan enjoys a reputation of being a highly technological country and a paradise for robots. In recent years, robotics in Japan has been increasingly engaged in the development and diffusion of service robots that are designed to interact with humans in public and private spaces. The mainstream discourse in Japan provides several cultural reasons to explain the speed and easiness of diffusion of robots in Japan. However, previous literature has demonstrated that, while cultural factors are in play, they are not intrinsic but are used by powerful actors like robot makers, companies and institutions, to construct a positive image of robots. I contribute to this field by proposing an analysis of the process of development and diffusion of service robots in the theoretical framework of sociotechnical imaginaries, shared vision of a desirable future that are supported by institutions and publicly performed. The imaginary of service robots in Japan, which I define as "Robots for Revitalization", depicts them as a technological solution to the problems of super-aging society that are also expected to generate economic growth. Through the analysis of policies, public events, and media concerning robots, I uncover the role of governments in shaping this imaginary. I also point out at the frictions created by service robots make their way into society: the sociotechnical imaginary is questioned and has to be negotiated between social actors, particularly in the case of care robots, which inevitably raise ethical dilemmas.