Almost everyone stood when the bride walked down the aisle in her white gown, but not the wedding conductor, because she was fixed to her chair.
The nuptial at this ceremony was led by "I-Fairy", a 4-foot(about1. 2-meter)tall seated robot with flashing eyes and plastic pigtails(辫子). Sunday's wedding was the first time that a marriage had been led by a robot, according to manufacturer Kokoro Co.
"Please lift the bride's veil(面纱), "the robot said in a tinny voice, waving its arms in the air as the newlyweds kissed in front of guests.
The wedding took place at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, where the I-Fairy wore a wreath of flowers and directed a rooftop ceremony. Wires led out from beneath it to a black curtain a few feet away, where a man clicked commands into a computer.
Japan has one of the most advanced robotics industries in the world, with the government actively supporting the field for future growth. Industrial models in factories are now standard, but recently Japanese companies are making a push to inject robots into everyday life.
Honda makes walking child-shaped robots, and other firms have developed them to entertain the elderly or play baseball. Kokoro, whose corporate goal is to"touch the hearts of the people", also makes giant dinosaur robots for exhibitions and lifelike android models that can smile and laugh. The company is a subsidiary( 附属公司)of Sanrio Co. , which owns the rights to Hello Kitty and other Japanese characters.
"There is a lot of fun. I think that Japanese have a strong sense that robots are our friends. Those in the robot industry mostly understand this, but people mainly want robots near them to serve some purpose, "said bride Satoko Inoue, 36, who works at manufacturer Kokoro Co.
The I-Fairy sells for about $57, 000 and three are in use in Singapore, the U. S. and Japan, according to company spokeswoman Kayako Kido.
