--- title: VIDEO: Barack Obama Meets ASIMO The Robot In Japan description: U.S. President Barack Obama was introduced to a new humanoid robot while on a state visit to Japan. It seemed to go well, at the time. canonical: https://time.com/75642/obama-japan-robot-asimo/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-24T15:34:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:52:37.227Z article:section: Politics og:title: POTUS meets ASIMO og:description: As President Obama visits Japan, he was introduced to a robot. They got along fine. og:url: https://time.com/75642/obama-japan-robot-asimo/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltea9b7d8aff94319e/69868c4613c79fb8a4191c8f/president-barack-obama-japan-robot.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3500 og:image:height: 1969 og:image:alt: U.S. President Barack Obama bows to "Asimo" the robot while visiting Miraikan or the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, in Tokyo, April 24, 2014. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: POTUS meets ASIMO twitter:description: As President Obama visits Japan, he was introduced to a robot. They got along fine. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltea9b7d8aff94319e/69868c4613c79fb8a4191c8f/president-barack-obama-japan-robot.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Watch: Obama Meets 'Scary' Humanoid Robot In Japan > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=59c2f98b-e79c-403f-84c4-74dc3c81985e&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Obama Meets Asimo Robot [Watch (HLS stream): Obama Meets Asimo Robot](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/vlMk0Tol.m3u8) (1:06)  _Published 2014-04-24. On his Asian tour, President Obama took the time to meet and play soccer with Honda's humanoid robot Asimo._ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Apr 24, 2014 3:34 PM UTC by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Apr 24, 2014 3:34 PM UTC On the second day of his visit to Japan Thursday, President Barack Obama toured the country’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation where he came face to face with the tiny Honda-built humanoid robot ASIMO. “It’s nice to meet you,” the robot said in a metallic voice, welcoming Obama to the facility. It then proceeded to run around and kick a soccer ball at the commander-in-chief, who deftly stopped it. But the experience left Obama spooked. He later quipped, “I have to say that the robots were a little scary, they were too lifelike,” he said. “They were amazing.” ## Transcript So I'm gonna stand right here. Okay, I don't want to block it as he's moving around. Welcome to Miliaka, Mr. President. I'm Asimo, a humanoid robot, it is a pleasure to meet you. [ SOUND ] [ LAUGH ] Okay, come on. Hey. Good job. Excellent. [ SOUND ] [ MUSIC ] [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] Is that gonna be mad? Got to get the ball in it, alright common. So then, why are you. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/75642/obama-japan-robot-asimo/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/75642/obama-japan-robot-asimo/"},"headline":"Watch: Obama Meets 'Scary' Humanoid Robot In Japan","datePublished":"2014-04-24T15:34:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-01T08:52:37.227Z","description":"U.S. President Barack Obama was introduced to a new humanoid robot while on a state visit to Japan. 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