The cafe opened in June in the Nihonbashi district of central Tokyo and employs Japanese and overseas employees, as well as some employees who work on site.
It was supposed to open at the same time as the Paralympic Games last year, but the opening was postponed due to the pandemic—just like the Olympics that started on Tuesday.
About 20 micro-robots with almond-shaped eyes sit on the table and elsewhere in the cafe. The cafe has no stairs and the smooth wooden floor is large enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
The machine called OriHime is equipped with a camera, microphone and speaker, allowing operators to communicate with customers remotely.
“Can I order food for you?” someone asked, next to a tablet displaying a menu of burgers, curries and salads.
When customers chat with pilots operating the mini robots, three larger humanoid robots will walk around, offering drinks or welcoming customers at the entrance.
There is even a barista robot in a brown apron that can make coffee in a French press.
