Robot Marathon Held in Japan

This is pretty funny! In Japan, a robot marathon race started last Thursday and just finished running a few moments ago. Take time to watch the videos below. They are definitely worth a few laughs.


But, now, I'd like to be the first to announce the winner to the English press. 


Ladies and gentlemen... The winner is.... er, this dude....

Heck, what's his name? I don't know. Let's just call him "Mr. We Love Osaka Dude." He's, er,... she's, it's the winner of the world's first robot marathon ever held and it's was an exciting race!


Omedetou gozaimasu! (Congratulations!)

National Post Reports:


Robot Marathon Ran in Osaka


A group of knee-high androids have crossed the starting line in Osaka, Japan for the first ever robot marathon, reported the BBC. The race, which started on Thursday, is expected to take about four days and will require 423 laps around an indoor track. The rules are as follows: bot operators are allowed to change robots' batteries and motors during the race, but they can't pick them up if they fall over - the droids must right themselves.


Since I enjoy British humor a lot, here two funny takes by the Brits on the festivities. Enjoy!

If you are crazy about Japanese Robots

then visit Robot Japan's web page and gallery.

Also thanks to Japan Today

ANA to Launch budget Airlines!

Great News! Japan's best airlines (no, it's not Japan Airlines)... Japan's best airlines, All Nippon Airways will launch a LCC (Low Cost Carrier).

Japan's ANA to launch budget carrier

TOKYO — Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) is to launch a low-cost carrier that will operate both international and domestic short-haul routes from the second half of 2011, the company said Thursday.

ANA said it had signed an agreement with Hong Kong-based private equity firm First Eastern Investment Group to establish "the first Japanese low-cost airline", adding that it would operate independently from ANA.

The new company will be established by the end of this year, ANA said, with the aim of flying both international and domestic short-haul routes out of Kansai International Airport, Osaka by 2011.

"Regardless of the intense competition in the air transportation industry, we anticipate an increase in passenger traffic demand in East Asia," said Shinichiro Ito, president and chief executive of ANA.

The carrier "came to the conclusion that a low cost carrier would be the right approach to compete effectively in this market" he said.

The airline said the new company will be 66.7 percent owned by Japanese investors, with ANA holding a 39 percent stake.

First Eastern will hold the remaining 33.3 percent stake, the maximum foreign ownership currently allowed in Japan.

From Google AFP