Robots are helping Japanese people feel less lonely amid the pandemic

The demand for small robots has risen steeply in Japan as more and more people are purchasing them for their parents, who often live far away and are hard to visit. — Axel Heimken/dpa

Beyond just its effects on health, the coronavirus pandemic has also taken a toll on people's social lives. In Japan, they're fighting back against the loneliness by buying up friendly robots.

The demand for small robots has risen steeply as more and more people are purchasing them for their parents, who often live in a distant province far away and are hard to visit. Robot toys, such as Sony's robot dog Aibo, can be a replacement for an in-person visit, as many fear spreading the coronavirus, the Kyodo news agency reports.