Japan Robotic Nurses Market - 2024-2031

Japan Robotic Nurses Market reached US$ 53.17 million in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 3,213.47 million by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 66.98% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

Japan's robotic nurses market is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, societal needs and government support. As the country grapples with a rapidly aging population and a shortage of healthcare professionals, the healthcare robotics sector is gaining momentum. One of the most significant trends in the Japanese robotic nurses market is the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve patient care.

The technologies enable robots to perform more complex tasks, such as real-time health monitoring, predictive care and personalized assistance based on patients' evolving needs. AI-powered robots can also adapt to the preferences of elderly patients, enhancing their emotional well-being and increasing the acceptance of robotic nurses.

Japan's aging population is a significant driver for the adoption of robotic nurses in elderly care facilities. With a shrinking workforce and a rising number of elderly people needing care, robotic nurses are seen as an efficient solution to provide support in tasks like mobility assistance, medication delivery and companionship. These robots help reduce the physical strain on caregivers and improve the quality of care provided to the elderly, ensuring that they can age with dignity.

A growing trend in Japan's robotic nurses market is the development of collaborative robots (cobots) that work alongside human caregivers. Rather than replacing human workers, cobots are designed to assist healthcare professionals by performing repetitive or physically demanding tasks, such as transporting patients, delivering supplies or assisting with physical therapy.

Another notable trend is the development of robots that can engage in emotional and social interaction with patients. Given that elderly patients often experience loneliness and isolation, especially in long-term care settings, robots capable of providing companionship and emotional support are gaining traction.

Drivers

Shortage of Healthcare Workers

Japan is experiencing a significant shortage of healthcare professionals due to the aging workforce and a declining number of younger individuals entering healthcare professions. For instance, according to an article published in The Asahi Shimbun Company, 2024, Japan will face a shortfall of around 570,000 caregivers in fiscal 2040, when its elderly population is set to approach its peak, welfare ministry estimates showed. The estimates released July 12 showed that 2.72 million caregivers will be needed in fiscal 2040.

In fiscal 2022, there were 2.15 million caregivers. The estimates also showed that 2.4 million caregivers will be needed in fiscal 2026, meaning there will be a shortage of 250,000. The ministry compiled the number of caregivers that the nation's 47 prefectural governments, including Tokyo and Hokkaido, estimated they would need to coincide with a review of the long-term care insurance system, which is undertaken once every three years.

The Tokyo metropolitan government, for example, estimates that 258,000 caregivers will be needed in fiscal 2040, compared with 182,000 in fiscal 2022. The projected nationwide shortage in fiscal 2040 was smaller than a previous estimate in fiscal 2021, which showed that 2.8 million caregivers or around 690,000 more than in fiscal 2019, would be needed.

In addition, according to estimates by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research and other sources, the productive-age population or those between 15 and 64, will decline from 73.95 million in 2023 to 62.13 million in 2040. The number of elderly people aged 65 or older is estimated to increase from 36.23 million to 39.28 million over the same period. The nursing care industry has been losing workers due to lower average wages and other reasons. Thus, shortage of healthcare workers helps to boost the market growth.

Government Support and Investment

The Japanese government heavily invests in robotics research, especially in the context of healthcare. Significant funds are allocated to research institutes, universities and private companies working on robotics technologies for elderly care. This financial support drives innovation and accelerates the development of robotic nurse technologies that are capable of assisting in various healthcare tasks.

For instance, in 2024, The welfare ministry plans to strengthen support for introducing robots into nursing care facilities to improve work efficiency in fiscal 2025. The ministry plans to add to the list of equipment covered by its subsidies devices for nutrition management and instruments for caring for people with dementia. It will include related expenses in its budget request for fiscal 2025. Classified by the ministry as "priority areas" of nursing care include watching over care receivers, as well as helping them with bathing and bodily functions. The ministry provides financial support of up to ¥1 million (US$ 7,000) for the introduction of care robots for use in these areas.

In addition, Japan's government has adopted an ambitious "Smart Healthcare" strategy, which aims to integrate advanced technologies like robotics into healthcare services. Robotic nurses are central to this vision, offering the potential to manage care delivery more efficiently. For instance, in 2019, the Cabinet Office of Japan launched an initiative to create a "robot nation," which involves integrating AI-driven robotics in various sectors, including healthcare. This initiative is designed to harness the power of robotics to address societal challenges like an aging population, helping to fund and support the commercialization of robotic nurses.

Government support and investment are critical drivers for the growth of the robotic nurse market in Japan. Through policy frameworks, financial incentives, collaborations with private companies and global initiatives, the government is creating a favorable environment for the development, adoption and commercialization of robotic nursing solutions.

Restraints

Technological Limitations and Reliability Concerns

Technological limitations and reliability concerns present significant barriers to the growth of Japan's robotic nurses market. One of the key technological challenges in the adoption of robotic nurses is the complexity of integrating them with existing healthcare infrastructure. Healthcare systems in Japan, particularly in hospitals, are highly specialized and often involve a wide array of medical equipment and software systems. Robotic nurses must seamlessly integrate into these systems to perform tasks such as patient monitoring, data sharing and interaction with medical devices.

In additon, the risk of malfunction is another significant concern. Healthcare robots, like any other complex machinery, are vulnerable to technical failures, ranging from minor glitches to complete system breakdowns. A failure in a robotic nurse, particularly during a critical task such as administering medication or assisting with patient mobility, could have serious consequences for patient health and safety.

Moreover, robotic nurses rely on machine learning algorithms to improve their responses to patients over time. However, these robots often take considerable time to "learn" from interactions with patients, which can delay their effectiveness in real-world applications. The robots' learning curves can make them less adaptable and slower to react compared to human caregivers, who can rely on years of experience and intuition. Thus, technological limitations and reliability concerns significantly impact the adoption and growth of the robotic nurses market in Japan.

Segment Analysis

The Japan robotic nurses market is segmented based on type, application, technology and end-user.

Demand for Type Drives the Segment Growth

The Elderly Care Robots segment is expected to dominate with over 40% of the market during the forecast period 2024-2031. Japan is home to one of the fastest aging populations in the world. For instance, Japanese aged 65 or older now account for nearly 30% of the population, government data shows. Japan's elderly population has hit a record high of 36.25 million people, with those aged 65 or older now accounting for almost one-third of Japanese, according to government data.

In addition, Japan is getting ever greyer. More than 1 in 10 people in the country are now aged 80 or older, according to the latest national data. Almost a third of its population is over 65 - an estimated 36.23 million. And there are more people than ever blowing out 100 birthday candles. Japan consistently has the oldest population in the world - with significantly more people over the age of 65 than Italy, the next oldest country.

This demographic shift has created an urgent need for solutions to provide high-quality care for the elderly while addressing the challenges of a shrinking healthcare workforce. Robotic nurses, specifically designed to assist in elderly care, are playing a pivotal role in bridging this gap, enabling healthcare systems to manage the rising demand for long-term care.

Moreover, many elderly patients require assistance with physical care tasks, such as bathing, dressing or eating. These tasks are not only physically demanding for caregivers but also require a high level of personal care and sensitivity. Elderly care robots can assist with these functions, helping to maintain the dignity of elderly individuals by providing more comfortable and less intrusive assistance, while also easing the physical burden on caregivers. The elderly care robots segment is a crucial growth driver for Japan's robotic nurses market, responding to the dual challenges of an aging population and a shortage of healthcare workers.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the Japan Robotic Nurses market include Toyota Engineering Society (TES), Rakuten, Omron Automation, Yaskawa Motoman, Toppan, SoftBank Robotics, Cyberdyne Inc, Panasonic Corporation, iRobot Corporation and Toshiba Corporation.

Key Developments

• In 2024, The SkyWalker Orthopedic Surgical Robot, developed by MicroPort NaviBot, a subsidiary of MicroPort MedBot, had received market approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). Designed for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures, the SkyWalker offers platform integration, standardization, precision and personalization, making it a highly effective surgical assistant.
• In 2022, Asensus Surgical, announced a lease agreement for its Senhance surgical robot with Kashiwa Kosei General Hospital in Kashiwa, Japan. This marks the second recent adoption of the Senhance system in Japan, following a similar agreement in September with Saiseikai Shiga Hospital in Ritto.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the Japan robotic nurses market segmentation based on a type, application, technology and end-user, as well as understand commercial assets and players.
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The Japan robotic nurses market report would provide approximately 45 tables, 41 figures and 201 pages.

Target Audience 2024

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies