ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces various ways humans build relationships with emotional machines in Japan and highlights the potential consequences for society, culture, and identity. To analyze these new forms of attachment, this chapter references works on how digital technologies shape subcultures like the otaku community (Hiroki Azuma), Tōru Honda’s “love capitalism,” which critiques traditional, commercialized notions of romance and promotes emotional attachments to virtual characters as genuine alternatives, as well as research on storytelling techniques in digital environments like mobile games, vocaloid, and net idols and how they shape human-machine relationships. The central debate revolves around whether such human-machine attachments isolate individuals from real-world human relationships or, conversely, serve as a bridge to improving interpersonal interactions.
Thereby first of all, current trends in the actual production of emotionally intelligent machines are examined. A significant focus is placed on “weak robots” (yowai robotto), a concept introduced by Michio Okada, which proposes that humans form stronger bonds with robots that exhibit weaknesses. This approach challenges the long-standing pursuit in robotics to make machines increasingly autonomous, efficient, and durable, like a perfected human. In addition to dealing with real machines, the article also outlines how human-machine narratives are reflected in media such as manga or anime. These indicate Japan’s dual perspective on new technological developments, namely, utopian aspirations for emotional fulfillment versus dystopian fears of technology overreach.
In the second section, the separate articles in the volume are summarized and discussed. Individual articles’ areas of focus include critiques on relying on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics as main solutions to issues such as labor shortage, reinforcement of traditional gender roles through gendered robots, AI, and emotional machines specifically designed for human interaction. Other topics include discussions on the fading human-machine dichotomy, suggesting the line between the two is becoming increasingly blurred.
Overall, the volume depicts the new emotional landscape in which Japanese popular culture serves as a testing ground for societal attitudes toward emotional machines. It captures the tension between the desire for AI companionship and fears of dehumanization, reflecting deeper concerns about identity, intimacy, and the nature of human relationships in a technologically driven future. By blending academic research with artistic and real-world perspectives, this interdisciplinary volume offers valuable insights into the shifting boundaries between humans and machines. It also raises pressing questions about the ethical and emotional consequences of AI integration into everyday life, making it an essential topic for both scholars and the general public.
