![A therapeutic robot named Paro reacts to an elderly user's hand at the Suisyoen retirement home, about 30 km (19 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled nuclear plant in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, July A therapeutic robot named Paro reacts to an elderly user's hand at the Suisyoen retirement home, about 30 km (19 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled nuclear plant in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, July](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E5Y126/a-therapeutic-robot-named-paro-reacts-to-an-elderly-users-hand-at-the-suisyoen-retirement-home-about-30-km-19-miles-south-of-the-tsunami-crippled-nuclear-plant-in-iwaki-fukushima-prefecture-july-28-2011-for-some-elderly-survivors-of-japans-march-earthquake-and-tsunami-comfort-comes-in-the-form-of-a-small-white-robotic-seal-named-paro-the-residents-of-the-nursing-home-came-back-from-a-nearly-two-month-long-evacuation-since-the-nuclear-crisis-in-fukushima-picture-taken-july-28-2011-to-match-reuters-life!-robot-seal-reuterskim-kyung-hoon-japan-tags-society-energy-sci-tech-2E5Y126.jpg)
A therapeutic robot named Paro reacts to an elderly user's hand at the Suisyoen retirement home, about 30 km (19 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled nuclear plant in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, July
![In this combination picture, a therapeutic robot named Paro opens its eyes as it reacts to an elderly user's hand at the Suisyoen retirement home, about 30 km (19 miles) south of In this combination picture, a therapeutic robot named Paro opens its eyes as it reacts to an elderly user's hand at the Suisyoen retirement home, about 30 km (19 miles) south of](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D05TKG/in-this-combination-picture-a-therapeutic-robot-named-paro-opens-its-eyes-as-it-reacts-to-an-elderly-users-hand-at-the-suisyoen-retirement-home-about-30-km-19-miles-south-of-the-tsunami-crippled-nuclear-plant-in-iwaki-fukushima-prefecture-july-28-2011-for-some-elderly-survivors-of-japans-march-earthquake-and-tsunami-comfort-comes-in-the-form-of-a-small-white-robotic-seal-named-paro-the-residents-of-the-nursing-home-came-back-from-a-nearly-two-month-long-evacuation-since-the-nuclear-crisis-in-fukushima-picture-taken-july-28-2011-to-match-reuters-life!-robot-seal-reuterskim-k-2D05TKG.jpg)
In this combination picture, a therapeutic robot named Paro opens its eyes as it reacts to an elderly user's hand at the Suisyoen retirement home, about 30 km (19 miles) south of
![A furry robotic seal called "Palo" is pictured at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo November 28, 2007. The robot seal, which can learn its name and react to touch, is designed A furry robotic seal called "Palo" is pictured at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo November 28, 2007. The robot seal, which can learn its name and react to touch, is designed](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D1W569/a-furry-robotic-seal-called-palo-is-pictured-at-the-international-robot-exhibition-in-tokyo-november-28-2007-the-robot-seal-which-can-learn-its-name-and-react-to-touch-is-designed-to-help-elderly-people-avoid-loneliness-and-develop-connections-with-others-by-interacting-and-talking-to-the-robot-reutersmichael-caronna-japan-2D1W569.jpg)
A furry robotic seal called "Palo" is pictured at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo November 28, 2007. The robot seal, which can learn its name and react to touch, is designed
![Robot carers for the elderly are now a reality in Japan. But do we want them here? | The Sunday Times Magazine | The Sunday Times Robot carers for the elderly are now a reality in Japan. But do we want them here? | The Sunday Times Magazine | The Sunday Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Fsundaytimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F6afb7530-f8b1-11e8-9a07-72ebead02362.jpg?crop=6200%2C4133%2C0%2C0)