Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have visited pavilions at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
The Imperial couple had been visiting Kyoto since Saturday, and they visited the expo on Monday.
It was their second visit to the expo, following their attendance at the opening ceremony in April.
Their tour began with a visit to a pavilion showcasing the history of the United Nations’ activities and its involvement in people’s daily lives. The UN is marking its 80th anniversary this year.
The chief of the pavilion said the Emperor asked various questions.
The Emperor and Empress then visited a pavilion where human-like robots known as androids are on display. They were briefed on the technology by the University of Osaka Professor Ishiguro Hiroshi, a leading expert in robotics who also produced the exhibition. The Imperial couple watched a video explaining how the technology will likely evolve in the next 50 years.
According to Ishiguro, the Emperor asked him what made him start developing androids.
The Emperor also inspected an android made to resemble novelist Natsume Soseki.
AloJapan.com