the use of robots in manufacturing is growing according to the international federation of robotics one point seven million robots will be in service worldwide by two thousand and twenty the leading robotic countries china south korea japan and the u.s. . there is fear in many places around the world that robotics technologies will eventually replace humans but here in japan it's a different story they're developing human like robots to solve some of their populations biggest problems. osaka japan is the society in transition on a busy night the streets are packed with young people but that belies the truth japan's population is rapidly declining according to japan's ministry of internal affairs as of january twenty seventh team the number of japanese fell by a record three hundred eight thousand to one hundred twenty five point six million the population decline is projected to continue one solution replace workers with robots. another challenge japan is now considered the world's senior citizen according to the united nations its population is the oldest in the world and the strong re