I’ve been running across all sorts of awesome robot news out of Japan recently (see here and here for examples), but I came across this story over at Absolutely Fobulous and it might take the cake for the most awesomest Japanese robot news so far.

A Japanese engineering team lead by Osaka University’s Hiroshi Ishiguro have created the Geminoid F (F stands for female), a remote operated, talking humanoid that can also move its eyes, mouth, head and shoulders. The Geminoid’s physical attributes were modeled after the unnamed woman in the photo above who is described as a 20-something hapa hottie model (the mixed race features chosen to give the fembot more “universal” appeal).

The robot is intended to serve in roles like receptionist, museum guide or hospital attendant and the first real world trials will start next month at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

This isn’t Ishiguro’s first foray into robotics. A few years ago, the good doctor also unleashed the Geminoid Hl-1 robot on the world. That one bore an uncanny resemblance to the scientist himself:

Modeling a robot after yourself? Is it just me or is that a bad episode of Star Trek just waiting to happen? He should’ve given his robot a mustache so we can tell the difference when it turns out to be evil and leads the Samurai sushi robots in an uprising against their human masters.

The generic version of the new Geminoid will go on sale for about $110,000 and supposedly there have already been about 50 requests for the robot from perverts with too much money hospitals and museums. But you can also get a “customized” version of the fembot for around $225,000.

Which brings me to the big question, which I’m sure, is on all our readers’ minds—what does a customized Geminoid do exactly? Does its mobility extend beyond just its face and shoulders…maybe to regions below the neck or even…below the belt? Will they be programmed to do more than ask you how you’re feeling today or explain the intricacies of the ancient Japanese artwork? What sort of other “special uses” are there for a robot created in the image of a sexy model? Come on, don’t pretend those weren’t the first questions that crossed your mind as you started reading this piece. It’s a life-like female robot and it’s Japanese! What else can you assume?

All I can say is…Japan, please continue being awesome!