Greetings, tech enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating trend that’s reshaping the workforce in Japan.

As the nation grapples with an aging population and labor shortages, businesses are turning to service robots as essential support.

According to research from Fuji Keizai, the service robot market is expected to nearly triple by 2030, reaching a staggering ¥400 billion ($2.7 billion).

The urgency of this development is underscored by projections from the Recruit Works Institute, which forecasts a labor shortfall of 11 million by 2040. Additionally, nearly 40% of the population will be aged 65 or older by 2065.

A great example of this integration can be seen at Skylark, Japan’s largest table service restaurant chain. They’ve deployed around 3,000 cat-eared robots to assist with their operations.

In one of their Tokyo locations, a 71-year-old employee, Yasuko Tagawa, noted that about half of her duties now involve working alongside robots. Her interactions are heartwarming—she once thanked a robot with a smile, “Thanks for your hard work. I’ll be counting on you.”