- Title: JAPAN: Robot takes on role of priest in high-tech wedding
- Date: 17th May 2010
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MAY 16, 2010) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) RESTAURANT AND WEDDING HALL WEDDING BEING LED BY I-FAIRY ROBOT I-FAIRY ROBOT TALKING BRIDE AND GROOM STANDING IN FRONT OF I-FAIRY AUDIENCE WATCHING WEDDING I-FAIRY ROBOT ASKING BRIDE AND GROOM TO PUT ON RINGS
- Embargoed: 1st June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Science / Technology,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA22DQ7UU472L4FUGF0QIP05DLB
- Story Text: Weddings and technology aren't normally associated with each other, but one couple said their vows in Tokyo on Sunday (May 16) in front of a very unusual priest, a robot.
The robot itself, the i-Fairy, although normally used in museums and science exhibits to direct visitors, was given a wreath and flowers and reprogrammed to act as the priest at the couple's wedding.
Robot was what brought the couple, Satoko Inoue and Tomohiro Shibata, together and eventually led them down the aisle.
The company where the bride works make the i-Fairy robot and the groom is a client.
"It's true that robots are what caused us to first begin going out, and as suggested by my wife, we decided that we wanted to try this sort of wedding," explained Shibata after making his vows.
After saying "I do", the bride also explained that she wanted to use the event as a way to make people think of robots as something that fits in their lives and not just in a factory.
"I always felt that robots would become more integrated into people's everyday lives. As such, since I had my wedding and also this cute robot at my company, I decided that I would love to have it at my ceremony," Inoue said.
Although being billed as being the first ever wedding presided over by a robot, the bride and groom explained that their families were also behind the idea and helped them the entire way.
Makers of the robot, Kokoro Ltd, said that while they are still selling the i-Fairy with the stated purpose of helping visitors, they would be all for helping more weddings cross the digital divide. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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