Visitors to Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto sit in a dimly-lit hall and listen to the teachings of Buddha - delivered by a talking robot.
Using hand gestures and eye contact, "Minder" teaches Buddhist philosophy and chants the Heart Sutra in Japanese.
Minder was born from a collaboration between Kodaiji Temple and Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, a famed roboticist, and his team.
Tensho Goto, the chief steward of the temple, approached Ishiguro two-and-half years ago. The production of Minder started a year later.
