With Japan facing a labor shortage due to its shrinking population, many are looking to artificial intelligence (AI) to fill the gap.

In a nation renowned for its pursuit of perfection, the sale of imperfect produce, particularly damaged or misshapen fruits and vegetables, poses a significant challenge.

For specialist Japanese dumpling makers like Osaka Ohsho, such as the brand Osaka Ohsho, maintaining quality standards is paramount. However, during the pandemic-induced surge in demand, its parent company, Eat&Holdings, struggled to keep pace with production due to insufficient manpower.

In response, the company turned to technology for a solution. In January 2023, it inaugurated a cutting-edge factory outfitted with AI-driven cameras trained to identify any flawed dumplings on the production lines.

Today, this facility churns out two dumplings every second, double the speed of other Osaka Ohsho production sites.

Keiko Handa, a spokesperson for the company, notes, “By integrating AI, we’ve slashed the manufacturing line’s manpower requirements by nearly 30%.”

Additionally, the company recently introduced an AI-powered cooking robot dubbed I-Robo at one of its Tokyo restaurants. Given the time-consuming nature of chef training, the company believes this technology will alleviate the labor shortage issue.

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