Play Robotics
ACTIVEJapanese company specializing in the safe deployment of humanoid robots: safety design, machine selection and integration, operation, and a vendor-neutral humanoid evaluation lab.
Play Robotics
Founded 2026 · Tokyo, JapanPlay Robotics (株式会社Play Robotics, Play Robotics Inc.) is a Japanese company founded on 9 April 2026 and headquartered in Tokyo (Chūō City, Tsukishima). It specializes in safely introducing humanoid robots into workplaces, combining industrial-safety expertise with hands-on deployment capability. Its business rests on three pillars: the 'Playground' lab, which collects and vendor-neutrally evaluates humanoids from around the world; the 'Plug & Play' deployment service (from needs assessment and risk assessment through safety design and machine selection to integration and operational improvement); and 'Playful' media (including the 'Humanoid Frontline' channel and podcast). The company also runs a program supporting in-house humanoid (Physical AI) adoption and a Shenzhen field-visit program. It works with the Kakuichi group on the deployment of the 'Miyazawa Noa' humanoid. Co-founders: Takashi Sano (CEO) and Kouta Yokoyama (CTO). The company is a member of the NVIDIA Inception program.
Founders
Serial entrepreneur. After building and selling new ventures at a listed IT company, he founded TALENT Inc. in 2018 (psychology-based organizational and talent development) and served as director and head of HR at COTEN Inc. Named to Forbes NEXT100 (2025). Founded Play Robotics in 2026.
Graduate in electrical and electronic engineering from Kisarazu KOSEN; master's degree at Yokohama National University in motion control (nursing-care transfer-assist robots), with several IEEE conference papers. Spent about six years at Omron developing robot systems and safety devices in factory automation. CTO at TALENT (AI/DX consulting) in 2024. Co-founded Play Robotics in 2026.
Domain of activity
2 areas · 3 technologies · 4 industries- Humanoid robots
- Embodied AI
- Robotics
- Embodied AI
- Simulation
- Robotics
- Industrial manufacturing
- Logistics & warehousing
- Construction
Global presence
HQ Tokyo · 1 regionsScale & funding
founded 2026Organizational relations
1 strategic relationsStrategic relations
1- PartnershipKakuichiPlay Robotics supports the Kakuichi group in deploying the bipedal humanoid 'Miyazawa Noa' (宮澤ノア), joining in April 2027 as a 'general-position' employee. The project is described as a joint venture; Kakuichi is the first client of the in-house humanoid adoption support program.2026 →
Profile & metadata
4 classification · 2 external linksClassification
- Statusactive
- Development stageearly
- Listed onNo
- Organization typeRobotics company
External links