Will this finally take the crown for AKB48 Fan of the Century?
As reported by our friends at JapanTrends.com, one admirer of Yuki Kashiwagi has succeeded in making a working android of her, the Yukirin Robot.
AKB48 fans aren’t known for their subtlety or restraint. From purchasing up crazy amounts of CDs and merchandise to attacking the objects of their desire at handshaking events, AKB48 is a group that inspires all manner of extreme response from its fans.
But this is something we haven’t personally seen before, though it is at least technically impressive.
It lacks arms but has a moving head and eyes, and can sense when you are looking at it and look back at you.
The Dr Frankenstein here is Takayuki Todo, a post-grade media art student who made the android for his graduation project. First shown earlier this year, it was exhibited at Niconico Chokaigi 3, a tech event at Suzaka City in Nagano Prefecture on the weekend.
With its tongue firmly in its cheek, the android was advertised as being at a booth not for the usual “handshaking” as the AKB girls do but for “staring”.
Not so much the uncanny valley as the otaku valley, with a few alterations the Yukirin Robot could become an awesome sex machine-cum-sex doll that we think would be worth a LOT of money!
And for comparison’s sake, here is the “real” Yuki Kashiwagi in all her glory…
