Japan has an infatuation with robots; after all, you don’t see beautiful cyborg women hanging out in restaurants in the US or 24-fingered hair washing bots in the UK. That’s why we weren’t surprised at all to find that Japan has just produced a gang of cheerleading robots that dance in sync while balancing on a ball.
Officially called the “Murata Cheerleaders,” these balancing robots are the fourth generation of robots to be produced by the company. The bicycle-riding Murata Boy was first to come in 1991, followed by the second version of the Murata Boy in 2005, and the Murata Girl who learned to ride a unicycle in 2008.
▼ Murata Boy on the left and Murata Girl on the right.
The Murata Cheerleaders are also equipped with three gyro-sensors “to detect pitch, roll and yaw for 360-degree control.” Unlike Murata’s previous robots, the Murata Cheerleaders are equipped with group control technology, allowing them to perform synchronized moves.
▼ Here they are performing a dance routine, complete with color-changing pom poms and eyes.
Murata is hoping the group control technology used in their cheerleaders will be applied to transportation systems to help synchronize vehicle movements, alleviating traffic congestion and preventing accidents. “Using wireless communication technology, one of Murata’s strengths, we aim to support communication both between cars and between cars and communication information posts at intersections.”
Take a look at the Murata Cheerleaders in action here:
Leave it to Japan to turn something really cool and actually helpful in serious, real world applications into a kawaii cheerleader. Keep it up!
Students in Japan Create a Robot That Can Balance on a Ball
Japanese company wants you to use a remote-controlled robot to visit Grandma, go shopping【Video】
1,007 Dancing Robots Smash Guinness World Record
Buildings transform into giant robots in Japanese real estate company’s anime commercial【Video】
There’s now a moving Gundam anime robot model that you can control with your brain【Video】
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Japan Railways partners with Overwatch, heroes hit the Shinkansen for bullet train collaboration
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Krispy Kreme releases a new Doughwich… at only one store in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japanese lab develops wearable robot arms controlled by feet
Japanese company builds giant robot you could be piloting right now
Japanese research institute creates ‘cyborg cockroaches’ to help save people’s lives【Video】
This Robot’s Got Soul! We Discover an Animatronic Ray Charles Sittin’ on a Bench in Osaka
Japanese educators want to allow students to use robot substitutes to attend school
Small Osaka company gradually working its way to an 18-meter rideable robot
Remote-control VR robots to start working in Japanese convenience stores this summer
Tokyo cafe staffed by robots piloted by paralyzed and otherwise housebound people
Robot matchmaking party in Japan has couples sit silently, techno cupids make small talk for them
Japanese government proposes cyborgs and robotic avatars for all by 2050
Not a fan of dishwashing? Get yourself an electric, plate-scrubbing robot appendage
Japanese convenience store chain begins testing remote controlled robot staff in Tokyo
Japanese company develops “smart mask” that translates speech to eight languages