https://www.umu.se/A RSS feed provided by Umeå Universityen-usSat, 30 May 2026 14:27:26 +0200https://www.umu.se/en/events/humlab-talk-imagining-companionship_12174643/This talk explores the cultural, affective, and ethical dimensions of living with companion robots.Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0200<p><strong>Imagining Companionship: AI, Robots, and the Future of Intimacy in Japan</strong></p><p><strong>With:</strong> Prof. Hirofumi Katsuno, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan</p><p>Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Japan, this talk explores the cultural, affective, and ethical dimensions of living with companion robots. Drawing on cases from Japan's emerging companion robot market, I examine how human-robot intimacy is imagined, practiced, and contested across different social contexts. In doing so, I consider what approaches to AI/robot companionship emerging from Japan might contribute to broader cross-cultural conversations on the future of human-machine relations.</p><p><strong>Hirofumi Katsuno</strong> is Professor of Anthropology and Media Studies at Doshisha University in Kyoto. His research investigates how people engage with emerging media and robotic technologies, and how these interactions shape imagination, agency, and a sense of presence in everyday life. His current projects are available at <a href="http://modelemotion.org">modelemotion.org</a>.</p><div class="epi-contentfragment">Registration Humlab Talk hybrid</div>Humlab – H2 / ZoomLecturehttps://www.umu.se/en/events/humlab-talk-imagining-companionship_12174643/2026-09-07T10:00:00+02:002026-09-07T12:00:00+02:00