With just one month to go until the "World Robot Summit (WRS) 2025 Harsh Environment F-REI Challenge (hereafter referred to as WRS 2025 Fukushima)”, an international competition that will show a future where humans and robots work together for disaster relief, what's the current state of preparations? The WRS 2025 Fukushima is not just organized by the Fukushima International Research and Education Organization (F-REI) but also involves many universities, companies, and organizations. This time, we sat down with three key members of the organizing committee for a candid interview about their last-minute preparations, the challenges unique to an international event, and their personal thoughts on WRS 2025 Fukushima.
On September 5, 2025, we interviewed MK, NT, and YK (left to right) for this feature.
The Mechanics of the Competition Are Set, Now for the Final Adjustments
Interviewer (F-REI): With WRS 2025 Fukushima just one month away, what stage are the preparations at?
YK: The general framework is now fixed. We've finalized the competition methods and content, and we've completed the referee trials and verification.
NT: Of course, we're all set. However, for the "Harsh Environment Drone Challenge (HEDC)," which is being held for the first time, we still have a few things to coordinate. I think that's going to make it the most exciting competition to watch.
Interviewer: International events have unique challenges, like accommodating overseas teams and handling equipment logistics. What kinds of strategies are you using, and what challenges are you facing?
YK: There are many. We must navigate legal differences between Japan and other countries, and cultures and customs vary as well.
Interviewer: Can you share any specific stories about differences in culture or customs?
YK: Things like food. For example, if there isn't an Indian restaurant near the hotel for a team from India, it could leave participants dissatisfied, so we want to be very careful with that. Some suggested that a convenience store would be enough, but we're choosing hotels while considering if there are places to eat within walking distance. We're also mindful of hospitality.
MK: When we host international teams in this area, we can support them while they're at the venue, but they spend about a third of their day at their hotels or in the community. They are here for an extended period, so I feel that involving the local community and getting their cooperation is a major challenge. To keep these events going, both we and the local community have got to keep ready to welcome people from overseas.
NT: Besides cultural and religious aspects, there are administrative things, too. Time zone differences are a given, but a sense of urgency for meeting deadlines and the speed of communication can be completely different. Even with generous deadlines, schedules often slip.
Interviewer: Those stories of struggle will serve as a good lesson for the next time you host an international event. How do you follow up in those situations? Do you just keep following up?
NT: We definitely reach out many times, and we set deadlines that have plenty of room to spare. Ultimately, the only thing we can do is try every possible avenue, including making phone calls at times that work for their time zone.
Balancing Safety and Enjoyment
Interviewer: My next question is, what kind of support system do you have in place to prepare for potential drone or robot malfunctions so that the audience can watch the event with peace of mind? I'm sure you have an emergency response manual prepared as well.
NT: That's right. Safety is our top priority.
Interviewer: So you can really promote the event by saying, "It's safe, so please come"?
NT: Exactly. That’s why we have clearly designated areas where visitors can watch from a safe distance. For competition areas that visitors can’t enter, we’re setting up a large LED screen for live viewing so they can watch the action in real time. We think people who have a technical or intellectual curiosity about robots and drones, as well as those who just want to enjoy the competition itself, will find something new and exciting.
Interviewer: I see, that's great. So the audience's safety is ensured, and it's not at all boring—in fact, it's very interesting. Also, there will be food trucks, right? Are there any other fun things to do besides the competition?
YK: We'll have stage events and exhibits.
NT: For people who have never been to the Fukushima Robot Test Field before, just seeing a real tunnel and a plant mock-up being used for robot tests outdoors will be interesting.
YK: It's a chance for people to get to know this facility.
NT: They'll come to Fukushima and discover how delicious the food is.
MK: I think it was the year before last, but we held a drone class for local fifth graders, and almost all of them said they had never been here and didn't know about it. The teachers also said it was their first time.
Interviewer: Even for the local community! It's really important to raise awareness of this place, isn't it? Especially to encourage future researchers to work at F-REI.
The Final Push: A Quick Response System, Team Support, and Standardization
Interviewer: So, with one month left until the competition, what's the biggest source of pressure for all of you right now?
YK: It's a little different from pressure, but I'm concerned about whether we can respond quickly if an accident occurs and handle it in a way that doesn't inconvenience anyone. The future of this event and the level of support from the local community will depend on how we respond. This is an event that we're holding in collaboration with the community, so my biggest concern is how we handle accidents.
NT: The main players are the participating teams. Since this is a competition, I think it's crucial for the organizing committee to create an environment where the teams, who passed the screening and are so motivated to be here, can perform to their full potential. We need to build venue operations and a workflow that will prevent any complaints from the teams. It would be a huge problem if their performance were compromised due to a mistake on our part, so that's a source of pressure for me.
MK: While it's important to run the competition well, one of the goals of this project is the standardization of robot and drone performance evaluation. The biggest pressure for me is how much we can make this a tournament that pursues that goal. Of course, a smooth, accident-free event is also very important for future competitions. In addition to that, I think it's crucial whether we can show how we've achieved standardization at this event, or even if we can't achieve it 100%, whether we can create a breakthrough. While there's the aspect of standardization through open innovation, the organizing committee is also consciously trying to create a venue where people can connect and where such innovation can be born. But when you're just a month away, you tend to get wrapped up in the immediate tasks. I am constantly thinking about how we can continue to pursue standardization during the event and even after it's over.
What it Means to Host the Event in Fukushima
Interviewer: On a personal level, what meaning do you find in hosting WRS 2025 Fukushima in Fukushima?
NT: The Fukushima Robot Test Field was built on land that was washed away by the tsunami after the Great East Japan Earthquake. A long time has passed, but I feel like we are gradually getting closer to what's called "creative reconstruction." On a personal note, I'm from Fukushima, and I'd like the Hamadori region to be more widely recognized for things like robotics technology. I hope that things created here will get national attention, and that the media will focus on this area so people will come here. I'm working on this event with the hope that it can be a part of that and a topic that helps spread the word.
MK: I visited the construction site when it was just a vacant lot during the planning stages of the Fukushima Robot Test Field. Coming back now, it's amazing to see so many test field buildings have been constructed, and a foundation for robot development has been created. People will come from overseas for this competition, and talented engineers from Japanese universities and companies will also be here. Personally, I'm deeply moved. I feel like we've finally made it this far.
YK: While the earthquake and disaster were tragic, Japan is a country of many disasters. I think the significance of this international event is to show the world how robot technology has developed in a disaster-stricken area and can be sent out as a solution. I believe the themes have now evolved beyond just disaster response to include futuristic technologies like space and practical applications for everyday life.
The Most Exciting Part to Watch: The Teams' Expressions
Interviewer: Here's the last question. Just give me a single, personal thought. When the WRS 2025 Fukushima is happening, what's the one moment you'd most like people to see?
MK: I'd have to say the competing teams in action. Especially for the teams that didn't win, I want people to see what they did to get here and what they're doing right now. Everyone watches the winning teams, but the general public doesn't really pay attention to the losing teams. I believe there's a lot that happened with the losing teams as well, so I'd like people to see that part of it, too.
NT: I agree. It’s not just about the robot’s movements—there’s a human drama behind it all, so I hope people will feel that from the teams. We’re going to live stream all the competitions on YouTube, so I want people to watch that. I hope that when they see a team celebrating with a huge fist pump, they'll get a sense of what the team has been working on and the emotions behind the scenes.
YK: My answer is the same. Even though it's a robot competition, I want people to focus more on the competitors' expressions than on the robots themselves. I think they'll get a real sense of what's happening from that.
Interviewer: Thank you very much. The fact that you all had the same answer to the last question makes me feel that the direction of this organizing committee is aligned, and there's a real sense of unity. If the weather is bad on the day of the competition, it might dampen things—or perhaps create new drama. While we hope for good weather on the day, we will continue with our final preparations.
(End)