A 'robot priest' wearing a Buddhist robe stands in front of a funeral altar during its demonstration at Life Ending Industry EXPO 2017 in Tokyo, Japan August 23, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
TOKYO: A Japanese company has introduced a new role for SoftBank's humanoid robot "Pepper" – a Buddhist priest for hire at funerals.
Chanting sutras in a computerised voice while tapping a drum, the robot was on display on Aug 23 at a funeral industry fair – the Life Ending Industry Expo – in Tokyo.
