OSAKA -- He can be funny and eloquent. But if someone dares to offer him only 1 yen he becomes abusive and calls them "stingy."
Owarai Saisen Robot, a fast-talking robot designed to collect offerings of cash, debuted last March in a make-believe shrine at Otaru Yoshimoto, a comic theme park in Hokkaido.
Fast gaining popularity and earning a lot of money, the robot can recognize different coins ranging from 1 yen to 500 yen. On receiving a coin, it tosses off a gag -- selected out of more than 20 options in its memory -- according to the amount given.
If the sum is as small as 10 yen, it gives a cold and scornful response. When satisfied with the amount, however, it entertains the giver with gags and gestures for nearly a minute.
The robot, jointly developed by two Osaka-based companies -- industrial robot maker Daihen Corp. and Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., a major entertainment company -- has been collecting more than 100,000 yen per month, according to the park operator. But there is a long way to go before recovering its development costs of 20 million yen.
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