Robots are giving a futuristic spin to dining in Japan

A cafe in Japan has introduced robot waiters that are intended to be more than a gimmick, offering job opportunities to people who find it hard to work outside the home.

At a Tokyo Cafe, Michio Imai greets a customer, but not in person. He's hundreds of kilometres away, operating a robot waiter as part of an experiment in inclusive employment. Credit: AFP Photo

Imai is behind the controls at his home in Hiroshima, 800 kilometres (500 miles) away, one of around 50 employees with physical and mental disabilities who work as Dawn's

The cafe opened in central Tokyo's Nihonbashi district in June and employs staff across Japan and overseas, as well as some who work on site. Credit: AFP Photo

Around 20 miniature robots with almond-shaped eyes sit on tables and in other parts of the cafe, which has no stairs and smooth wooden floors large enough for wheelchairs. Credit: AFP Photo

A humanoid robot delivers drinks to customers at the Dawn Cafe in Tokyo. Credit: AFP Photo

As customers chat with the pilots operating the mini robots, three larger, humanoid versions move around to serve drinks or interact with customers. Credit: AFP Photo

But the robots are largely a medium through which workers can communicate with customers. Credit: AFP Photo

A humanoid robot delivers drinks to customers at the Dawn Cafe in Tokyo. Credit: AFP Photo

The project is the brainchild of Kentaro Yoshifuji, an entrepreneur who co-founded the company Ory Laboratory that makes the robots. Credit: AFP Photo

A customer takes pictures of a humanoid robot delivering drinks at the Dawn Cafe in Tokyo. Credit: AFP Photo