The FOOMA JAPAN trade show opened at Tokyo Big Sight to showcase the latest food-production robots and automation technology [1, 2].
These advancements aim to help food-manufacturing firms manage a severe labor shortage by replacing manual tasks with high-speed robotic solutions [1, 2].
More than 1,000 domestic and overseas companies participated in the exhibition [1, 2]. The event highlights a growing push toward full-scale automation in the Japanese food sector, where human workers are increasingly scarce.
Among the featured technologies is a specialized onigiri-making robot. This machine possesses the capacity to shape 3,000 onigiri per hour [1]. Such high-volume production allows manufacturers to maintain output levels without relying on a large manual workforce.
The exhibition serves as a hub for robot makers to demonstrate how precision machinery can handle delicate food items. By integrating these systems, companies hope to stabilize supply chains, and reduce the operational risks associated with staffing gaps [1, 2].
Organizers of the March 13, 2024, opening day said these machines serve as a form of assistance for struggling businesses [2]. The scale of the event reflects the urgency of the transition toward automated food production in Japan.
“More than 1,000 domestic and overseas companies participated in the exhibition.”
The scale of FOOMA JAPAN indicates that the Japanese food industry is moving beyond simple automation toward a systemic reliance on robotics. As the domestic workforce shrinks, the ability to produce thousands of units per hour through machines like the onigiri robot is no longer a luxury but a necessity for economic survival in the manufacturing sector.
