The International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo paraded the latest in robotic advancement with nearly 300 companies taking part.

Kawada Industries demonstrated its Nextage industrial robot with six-jointed arms which is now being sold commercially. Along with the industrial robots were the more humanoid robots including the HRP-4C Miim developed by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology. These are just the latest in Japan's continuing love affair with the robot.

Japan's devotion to robotics has placed it as the leader in industrial robots, there are over a quarter of million industrial robot workers employed in the country. Tokyo has already invested several millions of dollars in the industry and hopes to see a continued mechanization of the country's industries. And with an aging population, Japan is hoping a robotic workforce could be the answer to its shrinking workforce.

Beyond industrial robots, Japan has also raced ahead with developing more humanoid robots. While Westerners are wary about creating more human-looking robots, Japanese scientists and engineers have no such qualms. This is partly due to popular culture in the country, Westerners often have robots cast as forces of evil, think of the Terminator films. In Japan robots tend to be benevolent forces that help humans. Japan's first famous cartoon robot, Tetsuwan Atomu or Astroboy fought crime, evil and injustice to protect humans.

It is this love of animation and technology that have spurred the development of more advanced humanoid robots. Honda has spent millions of dollars developing its Asimo robot. Honda has revealed the latest version of Asimo which can now evaluate input from its sensors to respond to the surrounding environment. Asimo now has more dexterity in its hands, such as holding a paper cup without squashing it. The robot can now be controlled remotely which would make it ideal for going in dangerous places.

Japan's continued fascination with robotics will continue despite the global economic recession. In fact more humanoid robots are being developed in Japan. In any other country this would be met with concern, in Japan this only means that they are a step closer to developing the real Astroboy.

Here are some examples of the humanoid robots that have come out of Japan.

Japan