曾经领跑全球人形机器人领域的日本，如今正面临来自中美的激烈竞争。日本工程师正在系统拆解和改装中国宇树G1机器人用于研究和竞技[1]，这一举动象征着日本从机器人定义者向学习者身份的转变。2026年7月，日本在东京秋叶原举办人形机器人格斗赛，主要参赛机型即为宇树G1[1]。日经Cross Tech组织了对这款机器人的全面拆解，深入研究其关节、执行器和控制系统[1]。
日本在人形机器人领域曾享有先发优势。早稻田大学在1973年研发出世界上第一款人形机器人WABOT[1]，但这一优势在生成式AI时代逐渐消散。本田ASIMO于2018年停产，软银的Pepper生产线也在2020年关闭[1]，标志着日本传统人形机器人产业的衰落。
为了扭转局面，日本政府和产业界正采取多项措施。政府首年投入超过3800亿日元支持Noetra项目，集中日本AI人才开发机器人基础模型[1]。Noetra首席执行官丹波博信表示，这可能是日本重新掌握关键技术的"最后机会"[1]。日本制定了宏大目标，计划到2040年在制造、造船和护理等领域部署1000万台AI机器人[1]。此外，2025年Humanoids Summit首次来到亚洲，举办地选在东京[1]，进一步凸显日本在该领域的战略重视。
Japan, once the global leader in humanoid robotics, is now turning to Chinese technology to accelerate its own development in the field. In July 2026, Japanese engineers organized a humanoid robot combat competition in Tokyo's Akihabara district, where the primary competing model was the Unitree G1 from China [1]. The event underscores a significant shift in Japan's position: from technology innovator to active learner in the era of generative AI-powered robotics.
The competition reflected deeper engagement with foreign innovations. Nikkei Cross Tech conducted a comprehensive teardown and analysis of the Unitree G1, examining its joints, actuators, and control systems in detail [1]. This research effort represents part of Japan's broader strategy to recover lost ground in robotics and artificial intelligence. Historically, Japan dominated the field—Waseda University developed the world's first humanoid robot, WABOT, in 1973 [1]—but momentum stalled as major projects wound down. Honda discontinued its ASIMO in 2018, and SoftBank halted production of Pepper in 2020 [1].
To reverse this decline, Japan has committed substantial resources to the Noetra project, with the government allocating over 380 billion yen in the first year to support AI model development and mobilize the nation's robotics talent [1]. The initiative aims to deploy 10 million AI-powered robots across manufacturing, shipbuilding, and care sectors by 2040 [1]. Tamba Hiroshi, CEO of Noetra, characterized the current moment as potentially Japan's "last chance" to regain control of critical technologies [1]. The Humanoids Summit chose Tokyo as its Asian debut venue in 2025 [1].
