Japan has a very different approach to robotics.

Japan leads the world in industrial robots, but there is also a growing movement that is reinventing the way we share our world with machines.

Kaname Hayashi was one of the creators of Softbank's Pepper robot. His latest startup, GrooveX, has raised over $100 million to develop the Lovot; a companion robot, or perhaps more accurately, a robot pet unlike any other.

We talk about the Lovot itself, of course, but we also cover GrooveX's unique business model and talk about the very different ways that people of different sexes, ages, and nationalities interact with the Lovot.

It's a great conversation, and I think you'll enjoy it.