Tokyo's robot bartender begins mixing cocktails as Japan looks towards automation

Record ID: 1456729

  • Title: Tokyo's robot bartender begins mixing cocktails as Japan looks towards automation
  • Date: 4th February 2020
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 29, 2020) (REUTERS) ROBOT COCKTAIL MAKER MOVING ROBOT POURING LIQUOR INTO CUP, PUTTING CUP IN CUP HOLDER AND ADDING SODA TWO CUSTOMERS WATCHING ROBOT PRESENT DRINK TO THEM ROBOT STIRRING DRINK (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) BAR CUSTOMER, NAME NOT GIVEN, SAYING: "Cheers! Mr. Robot, it's delicious, thank you!" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO AREA MANAGER, YORONOTA
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2020 10:53
  • Keywords: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Yoronotaki automation cocktail-making robot robot robot bartender
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN / LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
  • City: TOKYO, JAPAN / LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Science
  • Reuters ID: LVA001BZ74U3F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A robot bartender began serving drinks in a Tokyo pub this month, in a trial that could signal the start of an automation wave to sweep through restaurants and other industries struggling to hire workers in an ageing Japan.
    QBIT Robotics' repurposed industrial robot serves drinks from the corner of a Japanese izakaya pub operated by restaurant chain Yoronotaki.
    Customers see a smiling tablet computer face and hear the robot discuss the weather and other topics while it prepares drinks.
    It can pour a beer in 40 seconds and mix a cocktail in a minute. It also uses four cameras to monitor its customers' expressions using artificial intelligence software.
    "Dealing with people can be a hassle. With this you can just come, get drunk and go home," said customer and restaurant worker Satoshi Harada from Osaka in western Japan.
    Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has eased work visa restrictions to lure more foreign workers to Japan, but companies still face a worker shortfall as Japan's population shrinks and the number of people over 65 increases to more than a quarter of its population.
    In healthcare alone Japan expects a shortfall of 380,000 specialised workers by 2025.
    Service companies less able to relocate overseas and yet to benefit from automation are more vulnerable than industrial firms.
    Japan wants to use the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games beginning July 27 to showcase service robot technology. Organisers are planning to use robots built by Toyota Motor and Panasonic Corp to assist supporters, workers and athletes at the Games.
    "There is a labour shortage problem in the restaurant sector. We installed this to solve this issue. In addition to that, we are hoping to create a system where humans and robots can work together," said Yoronotaki's manager for the Tokyo area, Yoshio Momiya.
    "We need to inspect a number of issues including finding enough space. But we hope this is something we can use in the future," he added.
    The robot bartender trial, at the pub which employs around 30 people, will last two months after which Yoronotaki will assess the results before deciding on the next step.
    At around nine million yen ($828,00) the robot costs as much as employing a human bartender for three years.
    (Production: Akira Tomoshige, Akiko Okamoto)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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