Disabled people work using robots - 1st September 2021

Dawn Cafe in Tokyo has robot waiters. But there is something special about them.

People move the robots. These people are disabled. Dawn Cafe gives these people work. But they work from home.

These people have many different abilities. Some can control the robots with their eyes and a special screen. Customers in the cafe can talk with them at home. The robots have cameras.

Kentaro Yoshifuji owns the cafe. He thinks communication is good for business.

Kentaro Yoshifuji: "Customers here are not exactly coming to this location just to meet OriHime. They come here because of the people behind OriHime, and they will come back to see them again."

He opened the cafe during the Paralympics and the WeThe15 celebrations. WeThe15 celebrates the 15 percent of disabled people around the world.

Michio Imai controls one of the robots. This makes him very happy.

Michio Imai: "As long as I'm alive, I want to give something back to the community by working."

Customers can talk to the people at home through the small robots. They learn a lot.

Mamoru Fukaya is a customer.

Mamoru Fukaya:"The pilot was very friendly. Since he said he can't work outside his home, it's very good for such a person to have this kind of chance."

The big robots are waiters. Some people think the robot cafe is cool. But for Imai, it is the only job he has.

Michio Imai: "I feel happy if I can be a part of society."