Where else but Japan, and what better event than a wedding between a professor of robotics and a bride that works at one of Japan’s most prominent robotics company?  Tokyo’s beautiful Hibiya Park was the scene of the world’s first robot-conducted marriage between 42-year-old Tomohiro Shibata, professor of robotics at Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and 36-year-old Satoko Inoue, who works at Kokoro Company.  Kokoro Company makes the four-foot-tall I-Fairy robot, which is the very same robot that guided Ms. Inoue’s wedding ceremony!

Kokoro is a subsidiary of Sanrio, which is best-known as the company behind Hello Kitty.  I guess that’s why the I-Fairy is such a cute little robot.  “This was a lot of fun,” said the bride of her unusual wedding.  “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 that serve some purpose.”  The groom couldn’t resist a bit of a criticism at their wedding official:  “It would be nice if the robot was a bit more clever, but she is very good at expressing herself.”

If you’d like an I-Fairy of your own, the cost is about 6.3 million yen, or $68,000 dollars American.  The I-Fairy boasts 18 degrees of arm movement, a variety of preprogrammed sounds and words, and an adorable face that’s off the charts for cuteness!

Image:  Yahoo!

Tags: i-fairy, robot conducts wedding, robot wedding, Kokoro, Satoko Inoue, Tomohiro Shibata, unusual weddings, unusual ministers, Hibiya Park, Tokyo, Japan

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