A Japanese company has introduced a new role for the human-like robot "Pepper" - a Buddhist priest for hire at funerals. Chantin...
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A Japanese company has introduced a new role for the human-like robot "Pepper" - a Buddhist priest for hire at funerals.
Chanting sutras in a computerised voice while tapping a drum, the robot was on display yesterday at a funeral industry fair - the Life Ending Industry Expo - in Tokyo.Sutras are verses from holy scriptures. Nissei Eco Co, an unlisted plastic molding maker, wrote the chanting software for "Pepper", which was introduced by SoftBank Group Corp in 2014.
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Japanese 'Robot Priest' |
With Japan's population ageing and shrinking, many Buddhist priests receive less financial support from their communities, prompting some to find part-time work outside their temple duties, said Michio Inamura, Nissei's executive adviser.
The funeral robot could step in when a priest was not available, he said. It also cost less at 50 000 yen (about R6 000) per funeral compared to more than 240 000 yen (R29 000) for a human priest.
Buddhist priest Tetsugi Matsuo said he came to the expo to see if Pepper could "impart the 'heart' aspect to a machine because I believe that the 'heart' is the foundation of religion."
The robot has not yet been hired for a funeral. - Online Sources
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