One of the big draws is a robot designed to resemble a meerkat. Equipped with generative AI and a tiny camera in its mouth, it can recall past conversations and visual scenes to converse smoothly with people.
A company representative says the target is not kids but women in their 20s and 30s.
"They may feel unable to express themselves in their regular lives, so it would be nice if they feel comforted or want to live with the robot by their side," she says.
Japan Toy Association Chairman Maeda Michihiro says that while many assume the market would shrink along with the birthrate, it continues to grow, and one of the industry's strengths is its ability to innovate to appeal to people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
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