The types of robots used in Japan are very diverse. HAL Lumbar Support is an assistive device that helps caregivers to lift patients / objects more easily (it is also being tested in other areas such as construction work). Paro is a seal "stuffed animal robot" with minimal sensing and actuation, but it's very cute nonetheless (if you ever visit Tokyo, go to Miraikan in Odaiba, you can touch it there). Pepper (made by a French subsidiary of SoftBank) is a humanoid shaped robot on a wheel base that is mostly good for voice/gesture communication.