Japan

Tmsuk Co. Ltd. and Microsoft Co. Ltd signed an agreement to cooperate in the area of robotic software development.

Tmsuk will focus on the evaluation and promotion of Microsoft Corp.'s development tool for robot control software. Meanwhile, Microsoft will provide the software development environment and the marketing assistance to Tmsuk.

A humanoid robot designed to look like a young woman was a popular attraction at a department store here on Thursday as it called for voters to participate in nationwide local government elections.

The robot, named Actroid, appeared in front of the Sogo Department Store in Yokohama's Nishi-ku.

It has no oil, no copper and not much land but became the world's second-wealthiest country on little more than brainpower and determination. Now Japan may complete its rebirth from a decade of economic disaster by unleashing that brainpower again.

By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer Wed Feb 28

Japan is pretty serious about robotics. If the droids are going to fit in, they probably need to learn the Japanese custom of serving tea.

Fortunately, researchers at the University of Tokyo are exploring just that. In a demonstration this week, a humanoid with camera eyes made by Kawada Industries Inc. poured tea from a bottle into a cup.