Chinese-made humanoid robots are gaining significant traction in Japan, highlighting the growing adoption of Chinese robotics technology as the country grapples with acute labor shortages. The South China Morning Post reports that, in a landmark move, Japan Airlines (JAL) announced a two-year trial using humanoid models from Chinese firms Unitree and UBTech for ground-handling operations at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
The trial, conducted in partnership with GMO AI & Robotics, marks Japan’s first use of humanoid robots in airport operations. The experiment is scheduled to begin this month and will continue through 2028, aiming to verify the potential of these machines to achieve labor savings and reduce workloads in one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. The deployment is being closely watched by the global aviation industry as a potential model for addressing the widespread labor challenges airports worldwide face.
Tackling Japan’s Labor Crunch
Japan’s aviation industry is facing severe labor shortages driven by a shrinking working-age population and a post-pandemic surge in inbound tourism. The country’s demographic challenges are well documented: Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world, and its workforce is declining at a rate that cannot be offset solely by productivity gains. The aviation sector, which requires a large number of physically demanding roles in ground handling, baggage management, and aircraft servicing, has been particularly hard hit.
To address this, JAL is turning to automation. The tasks assigned to the robots in the trial will include aircraft towing, baggage and cargo loading and unloading, as well as cabin cleaning. These are precisely the kinds of repetitive, physically demanding tasks that humanoid robots are designed to perform, making the airport environment a natural fit for the technology.
According to reports by Asia Business Daily and CNBC, the trial will utilize Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot and UBTech’s Walker E model. The Unitree G1, standing about 1.3 meters tall and weighing roughly 35 kilograms, is designed for agile movement and is suited for industrial operations and logistics handling. Its compact size allows it to navigate the confined spaces found in aircraft cabins and baggage holds. UBTech’s Walker E is a larger model, standing 1.72 meters tall and weighing 73 kilograms, better suited for heavier outdoor tasks such as baggage loading and aircraft towing.
(Related: Unitree Robotics Files for $610 Million IPO, Revealing a Rare Profitable Humanoid Robot Business)
Expanding Applications Across Japan
The deployment at Haneda Airport is part of a broader trend of Japanese companies exploring the use of Chinese-made robots across various business applications. Japan’s openness to Chinese robotics technology is notable given the broader geopolitical tensions between the two countries and reflects a pragmatic recognition that Chinese manufacturers currently offer the best combination of capability and cost.
In March, Tokyo-based AI startup Zeals launched a trial using Unitree’s G1 robot at the University of Tsukuba Hospital in Ibaraki Prefecture. The robot was used to guide patients to locations within the facility, including the blood lab, demonstrating the technology’s potential in healthcare settings. The hospital trial received positive feedback from patients, many of whom found the robot’s presence reassuring rather than unsettling.
Separately, UBTech recently struck a deal with Honda’s China trading subsidiary to explore the use of its humanoid robots in industrial manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing. Honda, which has a long history of humanoid robot development through its ASIMO project, is now looking to Chinese suppliers to provide the commercial-scale robotics solutions that its own research program has not yet delivered.
(Related: UBTech Robotics Secures $940M State Grid Deal and Plans to Cut Humanoid Robot Costs to $20K by 2027)
China’s Global Robotics Dominance
The increasing presence of Chinese robots in Japan underscores China’s dominance in the global humanoid robotics market. According to consultancy Counterpoint Research, China accounted for four out of every five humanoid robot installations worldwide last year. Around 16,000 humanoid robots were installed globally in 2025 across sectors, including research, logistics, and manufacturing, with Chinese manufacturers supplying the vast majority.
The success of Chinese robotics firms in penetrating the Japanese market, a country historically known for its own advanced robotics industry, home to companies like Fanuc, Yaskawa, and Honda, is a testament to the rapid progress and cost-competitiveness of Chinese models. Japanese robotics companies have traditionally focused on industrial robots for manufacturing applications and have been slower to develop general-purpose humanoid robots like those Chinese firms are now producing at scale.
The cost advantage of Chinese robots is significant. Unitree’s G1, for example, is priced at approximately $16,000, a fraction of the cost of comparable robots from Western or Japanese manufacturers. This price point makes it economically viable for companies like JAL to deploy robots in roles where the return on investment might not justify a more expensive alternative.
(Related: Chinese Humanoids Leave American Robots Behind)
Implications for the Global Robotics Industry
The JAL trial has implications that extend far beyond the aviation sector. It demonstrates that Chinese humanoid robots are now capable of operating in demanding, real-world environments outside China and that international companies are willing to entrust them with important operational tasks.
As Chinese robotics companies continue to improve their products and expand their international sales networks, the global robotics industry is likely to undergo a significant restructuring. Companies that cannot match the performance-to-cost ratio of Chinese robots will face intense competitive pressure, while those that can partner with or differentiate from Chinese manufacturers will be better positioned to thrive.
For Japan, adopting Chinese robots represents a pragmatic response to an existential demographic challenge. The country cannot afford to let labor shortages cripple its economy, and if Chinese technology provides the most effective solution, the economic logic of adoption will ultimately outweigh any political reservations.