Japan is the only country in the world where pets outnumber children. Children and pets are closely linked in Japan: as the number of newborns increases, the number of dogs and cats increases.
Not that you understand walking in the streets of Tokyo: despite the growing number of cats, for example, it is rare to see them around. Much easier to see dogs, perhaps hidden in prams or wrapped in coats and blankets as surrogates for children. Today Bongo, a robot dog, wants to substitute them too.
You see few pets in town because owners are protective of them, or reluctant to let them out.
In general, cats are not allowed because their excrement is considered "antisocial."
Even city dogs are mostly "toy" breeds rather than working dogs. Very cute, but bred to trot around the living room and not for any specific task. Despite themselves, unfortunately, they are practically the four-legged equivalents of "hikikomori" (hikikomori are people who refuse to leave their room for fear of interacting with others).
This leads them to howl often when left alone at home for many hours (i.e. always). And then they cost an eye of the head, and it costs to keep them.
Cats are more independent, but if you don't let them go outside their litter box will still need to be cleaned every day.
For this reason millions of inhabitants who live alone would like to have a pet to keep them company, but they have to give up. Those who love cute pets but are held back by dirt, smell and maintenance costs show great interest in robotic alternatives. In the beginning was Aibo, the robotic dog from Sony, but perhaps it was too early to introduce it. 14 years after his retirement (has it been so long?) He arrives Bongo , a robotic toy dog from Bandai Namco, the giant born from the merger of two large groups in the entertainment sector.
Bongo, robot dog: ugly in face, beautiful in heart.
At first glance, Bongo might seem a little gimmicky: it's supposed to be a sort of dachshund, with a lengthening and shortening trunk. Its legs are basically a disguise for the wheels, the tubular body makes it look a bit like a vacuum cleaner. But it's hard not to be impressed by the way it follows its owner around the room.
Bongo may wag his tail and ears when you ask him a question (like: "What should the Japanese government do about the decline in birth rates, other than putting robots in Uniqlo stores or give exoskeletons to old people to make them work forever?”). He also has a small but delightful repertoire of dog-like movements and can even bark at strangers. Already. with its own facial recognition system it becomes hostile to faces that it has never seen, or that it does not recognise. Never let it socialize, for heaven's sake.
Despite the mistrust, the robot dog Bongo comes away with little. It is given to the new owners for a pittance, just 12.800 yen plus taxes.
A pittance even for Japanese prices, the equivalent of 120 euros. Practically a tenth of the price of some precious and tasty (and noisy) Pomeranian Spitz or Akita.
