Japan is turning to robots—fast. Faced with a massive labor shortage and an aging workforce, businesses are embracing automation like never before. The country’s service robot market is projected to nearly triple by 2030, soaring to ¥400 billion ($2.7 billion).
The numbers don’t lie. By 2040, Japan is expected to be short a staggering 11 million workers. Meanwhile, nearly 40% of the population will be 65 or older by 2065. The solution? Robots.
Restaurants are already leading the charge. Skylark, Japan’s largest table service restaurant chain, has deployed 3,000 cat-eared robots to serve food. At one Tokyo location, a 71-year-old employee estimated that half her job now involves working alongside these machines.
The shift isn’t just about convenience—it’s survival. With fewer young workers and rising demand for service jobs, automation is no longer optional. From hospitality to retail, Japan’s robotic revolution is only beginning.
Five Fast Facts
- Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, averaging around 84 years.
- Skylark operates over 3,000 restaurants across Japan, making it a dominant player in the industry.
- Japan leads the world in industrial robotics, accounting for nearly half of global robot production.
- The country’s first robot restaurant, Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku, became a global sensation before shutting down in 2021.
- Some Japanese hotels are staffed almost entirely by robots, including receptionists and cleaners.
