THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN JAPAN SEEN FROM AFRICA
Japan occupies a prominent place in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem, with a large fleet of industrial robots. At the same time, the development of humanoid robots such as Pepper (SoftBank), designed to interact with human emotions, has marked the social appropriation of AI (Japan Society, 2019), while ASIMO (Honda) illustrates advanced mobility and domestic assistance capabilities.[1] Added to this are service robots, such as Toyota’s Human Support Robot, dedicated to the well-being of the elderly.[2] At the same time, Japan has established guidelines articulating secure, reliable, and human-centered AI governance.[3] These elements justify the interest in studying how this orientation determines technological cooperation in Africa, a continent where Internet access remains limited (45.6% penetration in 2023 in Cameroon).[4] By focusing on training and knowledge transfer from Japan to Africa, this research fills a gap by offering an integrated reading of the impact of Japanese orientations on local dynamics, particularly in Cameroon. We posit that the Japanese focus on civilian and educational applications of AI (such as assistive robots, ABE training) creates an environment conducive to more equitable technology transfer and faster and more sustainable appropriation by African societies, compared to more militarized models.
JAPAN IN THE GLOBAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ECOSYSTEM: BETWEEN CIVIL INNOVATION AND MILITARY RESTRAINT
- Technological advances and societal integration
Japan is distinguished by a proliferation of robotic innovations intended primarily for civil and societal uses, ranging from store reception robots to smart agricultural platforms.[5] At the same time, the deep cultural acceptance of AI is based on the concept of monozukuri , advocating craftsmanship excellence and continuous innovation, and on flexible governance frameworks (“soft law”) aimed at promoting AI that is safe, reliable, and respects fundamental rights.
Japan has invested heavily in humanoid robots designed to interact with the general public and alleviate staff shortages in the service sector, such as Pepper, ASIMO, and HSR. Pepper (SoftBank), presented in June 2015, saw its first batch of 1,000 units sold in just 60 seconds upon its launch, highlighting a strong appetite for emotional robots; around 27,000 units in total had been manufactured before production was suspended in June 2021.[6] ASIMO (Honda), developed as early as 2000, is one of the most iconic robots: 120 cm tall and weighing 52 kg, it can walk, run up to 9 km/h, and wave. It travels around the world as a “Robokind ambassador,” generating enthusiasm for robotics.[7] Human Support Robot (Toyota), or HSR, is a compact robot designed to assist the elderly or those with reduced mobility: it moves freely around the house, monitors family members and can report the state of the environment or fetch objects.[8] There are also many Japanese artificial intelligences for emotional assistance in this area.[9]
The agricultural sector and primary industry are also benefiting from robotic solutions. As part of the MIDORI Strategy led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), launched on May 12, 2021, Japan aims to green its agriculture by promoting innovation. This strategy includes automatic drone mapping of fields to precisely detect affected areas and minimize pesticide use through AI image analysis, as well as the development of mechanical weeding robots, such as remote-controlled mowers for organic farming, and low-volume sprayers of plant protection products.[10] Similarly, the Japanese beverage company Kirin has developed a new tool called “Sakura AI Camera” to preserve cherry blossoms in Japan, an important moment for Japanese tourism.[11] In addition, FANUC, the world leader in automation, reached the milestone of one million cumulative industrial robots shipped since 1977 in August 2023. Its CRX cobot range, designed to operate without external barriers, illustrates the trend towards collaborative robots coexisting safely with human operators.[12]
The concept of monozukuri, literally “the art of making things,” is central to social acceptance of AI and robotics in Japan. It embodies the synthesis of know-how, creativity, and the quest for perfection, giving the technology a craft-like and trustworthy dimension for individuals and businesses.[13] Moreover, AI is deeply rooted in the practices of civil society in Japan, particularly in the field of medicine.[14] Faced with the challenges related to the adoption of AI, the Japanese government has favored a “soft law” framework rather than rigid standards.[15] On April 19, 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) published the AI Guidelines for Business Ver. 1.0, integrating several previous texts and setting out voluntary principles of action for AI developers, suppliers, and users: agile governance, risk management, and the promotion of innovation within a non-binding regime.[16] These guidelines emphasize prior risk assessment, prevention of algorithmic bias and protection of privacy, in order to ensure AI that is reliable, secure and respects users’ fundamental rights.[17]
- Contrast with the US model
Comparing the US and Japanese approaches to AI research, we observe a very marked polarization in the United States towards military uses, while Japan deliberately orients its strategy towards civilian applications and public-private partnerships. This divergence reflects as much public policy choices as distinct cultural and institutional logics. In the United States, the Department of Defense (DoD) concentrates the bulk of federal AI contracts: the share of the potential value of DoD contracts increased from 76% of total federal AI funding in August 2022 to 95% a year later.[18] Meanwhile, according to a report in Time, the value of DoD AI contracts climbed from $355 million to $4.6 billion between August 2022 and August 2023, reflecting a growing military priority in federal investments.[19] In contrast, in Japan, government spending on defense research and development accounts for only 2.7% of total government R&D spending, with the remainder allocated to civilian and societal uses. No autonomous combat drones are currently in active service with the Japanese forces, in line with the country’s pacifist stance, whereas the MQ-9 Reaper—capable of autonomous or remotely piloted flight, armed, and used at 40,000 ft by the USAF—represents the US military’s drone orientation.[20] However, this is a trend that has been gradually evolving since 2024,[21] as clearly signaled in TSUCHIYA Motohiro’s 2024 article on it.[22]
In Japan, keiretsu—interconnected conglomerates historically formed around banks and large industrial groups like Mitsubishi and Hitachi—facilitate the creation of R&D consortia that bring together businesses, universities, and government agencies. For example, the SAMURAI Project, funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and led by AIST’s AIRC, has been a public-private initiative that has been developing next-generation robotics and AI technologies since 2015. The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) is another public-private partnership structure, created by the government and 19 major companies (Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi, etc.), whose mission is to finance and support startups and innovative projects, including in the field of AI, to strengthen Japan’s industrial competitiveness. On the academic front, the University of Tokyo and the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project play a key role in research on AI ethics and governance: the University of Tokyo developed the Risk Chain Model to anticipate and manage AI risks, publishing notably in Nature Machine Intelligence, and RIKEN explores legal and societal issues through its AI Society and Legal System Team.[23]
JAPAN AS A PLAYER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AFRICA
- Pan-African Cooperation: Transfer of skills
Japan’s deployment in the field of artificial intelligence can also be seen in a dynamic of South-South cooperation, particularly with Africa. The ABE (African Business Education Initiative for Youth) program, launched by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the TICAD V conference in 2013, aims to train 1,000 young Africans at a master’s level in Japanese universities, coupled with practical internships in companies over a period of five years.[24] To date, nearly 1,800 participants from 54 countries have completed the program and more than 1,400 have already returned to their home countries, where they contribute to various sectors.[25] The AFRICA-ai-JAPAN project is a tripartite cooperation between the African Union Commission through the Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI), JICA and Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT), launched in June 2014 to strengthen science, technology and innovation (STI) skills in Africa.[26] This project has enabled the creation of prototyping and bio-resource laboratories, the equipment of PAUSTI and the training of hundreds of students and teacher-researchers, while promoting the use of local knowledge in the development of scientific solutions.[27] Extended until November 2025, Phase II expands training and consolidates a pan-African network of partner institutions, with the ambition of boosting applied research and territorialized innovation.[28]
[1] ALLIENNE-DISS, Ludivine. Humanoid robots, a qualified life form. 2020. Doctoral thesis. University of Picardie Jules Verne.
[2] MAG TOYOTA, “Toyota Human Support Robot: What is it and how can it be used? », https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-human-support-robot/ , accessed on April 20, 2025 at 3:44 p.m.
[3] METI GO, “AI Governance in Japan Ver. 1.1,” https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/mono_info_service/ai_shakai_jisso/pdf/20210709_8.pdf?, accessed April 18, 2025, at 2:32 p.m.
[4] DATAR REPORTAL, “Digital 2023: Cameroon”, https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-cameroon? , accessed April 19, 2025 at 9:34 p.m.
[5] GANASCIA, Jean-Gabriel. The Japanese are the champions of artificial intelligence. Idées reçues, 2017, pp. 43-47.
[6] JDG, “In one minute, SoftBank Robotics sold all its Pepper robots”, https://www.journaldugeek.com/2015/06/22/en-une-minute-softbank-robotics-a-ecoule-tous-ses-robots-pepper/ , consulted on April 20, 2025 at 12:04 p.m.; LE MONDE INFORMATIQUE, “1,000 Pepper robots sold in less than 1 minute”, https://www.lemondeinformatique.fr/actualites/lire-1-000-robots-pepper-vendus-en-moins-d-1-minute-61547.html , consulted on April 20, 2025 at 2:44 p.m.; CNBC, “SoftBank’s personal robot sells out in 60 seconds: WSJ,” https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/22/softbanks-personal-robot-sells-out-in-60-seconds-wsj.html , accessed April 20, 2025, at 11:56 a.m.
[7] PLANETE ROBOTS, “Asimo by Honda, a look back at its history”, https://www.planeterobots.com/2022/11/23/asimo-de-honda-un-retour-sur-son-histoire/ , consulted on April 19, 2025.
[8] ROBOTS GUIDE, “Human Support Robot,” https://robotsguide.com/robots/hsr? , accessed April 19, 2025, at 2:04 p.m.
[9] DATA ROCKSTARS, “Japan: Robot against loneliness with the contribution of data science”, https://www.datarockstars.ai/japon-un-robot-pour-pallier-la-solitude/ , published on September 6, 2023.
[10] Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of JAPAN, “Japan’s Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems (Strategy MIDORI), and Climate-Smart Agriculture”, 2023.
[11] FRANCE 24, “In Japan, an AI tool to preserve cherry blossoms”, https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20250409-au-japon-un-outil-d-ia-pour-préserver-les-cerisiers-en-fleurs, published on April 9, 2025 at 5:55 a.m.
[12] FANUC, “Total Shipment of 1 Million Units of FANUC Robot,” https://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/profile/pr/newsrelease/2023/notice20230915.html#:~:text=In%20August%202023%2C%20FANUC%20reached,%22FANUC%20ROBOT%20MODEL%201%22 . , accessed April 18, 2025, at 4:52 p.m.
[13] KOVACIC, Mateja. The Making of Japan’s National Robot History: Monozukuri, Enculturation, and the Cultural Lineage of Robots. Critical Asian Studies, 2018, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 572–590.
[14] MIYOSHI, Norikatsu. Use of AI in Diagnostic Imaging and Future Prospects. JMA Journal, 2025, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 198-203.
[15] SIECLE DIGITAL, “Japan in favor of flexible AI regulation”, https://siecledigital.fr/2024/06/21/le-japon-favorable-a-une-reglementation-souple-de-lia/, published on June 21, 2024 at 11:15 a.m.
[16] Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, “AI Guidelines for Business Ver 1.0, April 19, 2024,” https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/mono_info_service/ai_shakai_jisso/pdf/20240419_9.pdf , accessed April 18, 2025 at 11:23 a.m.
[17] DLA PIPER, “Understanding AI Regulations in Japan, Current Status and Future Prospects,” https://www.dlapiper.com/en/insights/publications/2024/10/understanding-ai-regulations-in-japan-current-status-and-future-prospects , accessed April 19, 2025, at 6:02 p.m.
[18] DENFORD, James S., DESOUZA, Kevin C., DAWSON, Gregory S., et al. The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) spending by the US government. 2024.
[19] TIME, “The US Military’s Investments Into Artificial Intelligence Are Skyrocketing”, https://time.com/6961317/ai-artificial-intelligence-us-military-spending/ , accessed April 21, 2025 at 2:02 p.m.
[20] SABRY, Fouad. Autonomous Weapons: How Will Artificial Intelligence Take Over the Arms Race? One Billion Knowledgeable, 2021.
[21] AI NEWS, “Japan: Ministry of Defense presents its first basic policy on the use of AI”, https://www.actuia.com/actualite/japon-le-ministere-de-la-defense-presente-sa-1ere-politique-de-base-sur-lutilisation-de-lia/ , published on July 10, 2024.
[22] TSUCHIYA, Motohiro. Overcoming the Long Shadow of the Past: Defense AI in Japan. In: The Very Long Game: 25 Case Studies on AI from the Global State of Defense. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2024. pp. 487–504.
[23] HABUKA, H. The Path to Trustworthy AI: G7 Outcomes and Implications for Global AI Governance. Center for Strategic and International Studies. June, 2023, vol. 6, p. 2023; SOMYA, Joshi (Ed.), “The AI governance we want, call to action: liability, Interoperability, sustainability & labor”, Internet Governance Forum, Policy Network on Artificial Intelligence, 2024.
[24] JICA, “Master’s Degree and Internship Program of African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative)”, https://www.jica.go.jp/english/africahiroba/business/detail/03/index.html, accessed on April 17, 2025 at 2:21 p.m.
[25] JICA, “Development of Industrial Human Resources in Africa, ABE Initiative,” https://www.jica.go.jp/africahiroba/ticad/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2024/04/23/ABE_A3_EN_1.pdf , accessed April 17, 2025, at 2:43 p.m.
[26] PAN AFRICAN UNIVERSITY, “JICA To Initiate Development Channels For The African Continent,” https://pau-au.africa/institutes/pausti/news-events/news/news-details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=404&cHash=3b4052351a7fdd190fccf846f1a75137 , accessed April 18, 2025, at 2:05 p.m.
[27] JICA, “JICA Technical Cooperation, 2014”, https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/project/kenya/007/materials/ku57pq00001wzrjo-att/public_info_en.pdf, accessed April 18, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
[28]JKUAT, “Africa-ai-JAPAN Project Phase II Gets Extension,” https://www.jkuat.ac.ke/africa-ai-japan-project-phase-ii-gets-extension/ , accessed April 18, 2025, at 5:05 p.m.
