TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese dance choreographer Huang Yi (黃翊) mesmerized audiences in Osaka Sunday (August 3) by dancing a duet with an industrial robotic arm named KUKA (庫卡). The performance, part of the We TAIWAN in EXPO 2025 (We TAIWAN台灣文化in大阪．關西世博) line-up of performances in the city this month, was the human-robot duo's debut in Japan and has captivated audiences in nearly sold-out performances.
Huang Yi's collaboration with KUKA has toured 47 cities since its 2012 debut. This time, to cater to the local Japanese audience, organizers invited Japanese voice actors to record a Japanese language version of the performance, "Huang Yi & KUKA" (黃翊與庫卡). In a post-performance discussion, Huang emphasized the inclusion of audio descriptions, aiming to broaden artistic engagement and allow visually impaired individuals to experience art.
Huang described performing in Japan as fulfilling a dream, since the inspiration for dancing with a robot stemmed from the popular Japanese manga "Doraemon". He even showcased his childhood drawings of "Doraemon" during the event. Reflecting on his decade-long partnership with KUKA, Huang remarked, "It feels like transferring a bit of my soul to KUKA," although KUKA's body will never age like a human dancer's.
"Huang Yi & KUKA" will feature three shows across today (August 4) and tomorrow (August 5), with nearly all 600 seats per show reserved. Hundreds of eager spectators lined up an hour before the opening to secure their spots. Beyond this performance, the We TAIWAN in EXPO 2025 event at the Osaka City Central Public Hall will present other activities until August 20, including the AI-immersive performance "Free UR Head" (放開你的頭腦), the VR journey "Traces of the Future VR360 Screenings" (遺留未來VR360播映), and a selection of classic Taiwanese films in "The Glorious Past and Present of Taiwan Cinema" (台灣電影的璀璨今昔).
