Intelligent and caring robots by 2050? Narratives and future orientations for technocare in Japan

Over the past two decades, government reports have consistently advocated for transforming Japanese society into a high-tech utopia. This vision is not new, as such language has long influenced Japanese policy on technoscience. However, in recent years, discussions around the potential and projected impact of AI and robotics have reached unprecedented levels of aspiration in Japan. Specifically, social robots for elderly care are increasingly promoted as solutions to Japan’s pressing socio-economic challenges stemming from its rapidly aging population. This paper critically examines the narratives crafted by the Japanese government regarding the future of so-called intelligent and caring machines. It does so by analysing reports from research and development initiatives, including Society 5.0 and the Moonshot R&D Program. It is also informed by the author’s ethnographic fieldwork conducted in robotics labs across Japan between 2022 and 2024. The analysis is grounded in the theoretical framework of an anthropology of the future, critically deconstructing these salvific narratives. Particular attention is given to the future orientations such hyped narratives create and their implications for care practices and society. By questioning the urgency-driven rhetoric behind technocare developments in Japan – which often overlooks end-users’ perspectives, views, and values – the paper highlights significant ethical and societal issues surrounding these approaches to innovation.