President Barack Obama, touring a science exposition in Japan, took a few minutes to meet with Asimo, the humanoid robot, for a chat and a bit of play with a soccer ball.
At the Miraikan Science Expo in Tokyo, the robot greeted the president -- in English -- saying, "It's nice to meet you" and concluding by saying, "I can kick a soccer ball."
Obama fielded Asimo's kick by blocking it and trapping it under his foot, then complimented the robot, calling Asimo's ball control "pretty impressive."
However, in a later chat with students at the expo, held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, he did admit he found "the robots were a little scary. They were too lifelike."
Speaking to the students, Obama took the opportunity to compliment both his own country and Japan for efforts to work together on the latest technology and innovations.
He also lauded programs intended to increase student exchanges between the two countries.
"Young people like you have more technology and more power than even the greatest innovators of previous generations, so there is no limit to what you can achieve," he said, and "it starts with the imaginations and the vision of young people."
Technology, the president told a group of about 30 students, "has allowed us to understand the planet that we share, and to understand not only the great possibilities but also the challenges and dangers from things like climate change -- that your generation is going to help us to find answers to some of the questions that we have to answer."
He concluded his remarks to the students by saying
"gamabatta kudasai," with roughly translated means "give it your best.
The Asimo, or Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, robot has undergone constant improvements since the Honda Motor Co. first unveiled it 14 years ago.
About as tall as a 10-year-old child at just over 4 feet, the robot is covered in an all-white suit that gives it an astronaut-like appearance.
Battery-powered and completely autonomous, Asimo can both walk and run, and is able to move across level surfaces at up to 3.7 mph.
