Tokyo robot cafe offers new spin on disability inclusion

A humanoid robot delivering drinks to customers at the Dawn Cafe in Tokyo. The cafe’s launch comes with the Paralympics due to open on Aug 24 and disability advocates debating Japan’s progress on inclusion and accessibility. — AFP

TOKYO: At a Tokyo cafe, Michio Imai greets a customer, but not in person. He’s hundreds of kilometres away, operating a robot waiter as part of an experiment in inclusive employment.

Dawn cafe’s robots are intended to be more than a gimmick, offering job opportunities to people who find it hard to work outside the home.