In 2039, Okuyama Hot Spring had lost its former vibrancy.
Nestled quietly in the mountains, this hot spring town was once known for its historic inns dating back to the Meiji era and a small shopping street. But due to aging and the exodus of youth to urban areas, the population had dwindled to just 30 residents. Vacant houses stood out, weeds overgrew the sidewalks, and only the steam from the hot springs evoked memories of the town's lively days. The village teetered on the brink of abandonment.
Amid this decline, the village's only young resident, Yuto Sato, 28, had returned home after quitting his IT job in Tokyo. He intended to take over his grandfather's inn, "Yamasou," but guests were scarce, and there were no staff. Determined to save the village, Yuto came up with a bold plan: to revive Okuyama by utilizing Tesla's humanoid robots, "Optimus."
"What can a small village like this do? But with Optimus…"
Yuto opened his laptop and reviewed Optimus's specifications on Tesla's official site. Equipped with AI, capable of 24/7 operation, and able to handle everything from precise tasks to heavy labor. Each unit cost about ¥5 million, but with government subsidies for rural revitalization, the initial investment could be manageable. Yuto approached the village mayor, an elderly man named Yamamoto, aged 78, with his idea.
"Yuto, saving the village with machines? Never heard of such a thing."
"Mayor, it's impossible to bring back the crowds like before. But Optimus can handle inn cleaning, cooking, tourist guiding, even farmwork. We can keep the village without needing people."
"Hmm… but what about the money? The village's savings are next to nothing."
"I'll secure grants and crowdfund. Plus, if we promote it as a 'robot-run hot spring town' for tourists, it'll draw attention."
Mayor Yamamoto nodded reluctantly.
Yuto promptly contacted Tesla, negotiating the introduction of 30 Optimus units. He planned to convert vacant houses into "robot residences" and charging stations.
Through a crowdfunding campaign titled "Save the Hot Spring Town of the Future!" he raised ¥100 million from urban youths and tech enthusiasts.
Six months later, the Optimus robots arrived in Okuyama Hot Spring.
Their silver bodies and glowing red LED eyes cast an eerie presence over the village's landscape.
Yuto assigned roles to each robot: 10 for inn operations, 5 for shopkeeping in the shopping street, 5 for agriculture and forestry, 5 for tourist guiding, and the rest for maintenance and cleaning. Powered by AI, the robots learned and collaborated efficiently.
On the first trial run, the inn "Yamasou" reopened.
Optimus units greeted guests at the front desk, cleaned rooms, and served dinner. The meals, made from local ingredients, followed pre-programmed kaiseki recipes.
One guest, Ayaka Tanaka, a 32-year-old travel blogger from the city, was astonished.
"Are these all run by robots? It's so seamless!"
"Thank you. We have no human staff, but we guarantee quality," Yuto replied with a smile.
Ayaka snapped photos with her phone, and her blog and social media posts went viral, making Okuyama Hot Spring a trending topic as the "Robot Village."
Tourist numbers gradually increased, with the inn fully booked on some weekends.
However, challenges arose.
The village's elderly residents disapproved of the robots, grumbling that machines had stolen their jobs. One day, an 82-year-old rice shop owner, Grandma Takahashi, confronted Yuto.
"Yuto, entrusting the village to these hunks of metal? There's no soul in that!"
"Grandma, we'll protect the soul. Optimus is just a tool—a tool we need to keep the village alive."
"A tool? Those glowing-eyed monsters creeping around at night give me the chills!"
Yuto sighed, troubled.
To ease the elders' fears, he programmed Optimus to adopt "human-like behavior." They provided polite service to tourists and engaged in friendly chats with villagers. At Grandma Takahashi's rice shop, an Optimus carefully wrapped rice and made small talk.
"Grandma, today's rice looks especially glossy."
"Hoh, that's good to hear… Well, you're not so bad, I suppose."
Gradually, the villagers began to accept Optimus. The robots blended into daily life, tending fields, cleaning the hot spring town, and guiding tourists.
A particular hit was the "Nighttime Mountain Trail Tour" led by Optimus. With LED lights in hand, the robots led groups through the forest, a spectacle that felt like a sci-fi movie and thrilled younger visitors.
A year later, Okuyama Hot Spring had made a remarkable recovery.
Tourist numbers reached 50,000 annually, and the inn and shopping street turned profitable. Vacant houses were renovated, and new residents began to move in.
Optimus supported the village's infrastructure while serving as a tourist attraction. The village was hailed as a "model for the coexistence of robots and humans" and featured in domestic and international media.
One evening, Yuto soaked in Yamasou's open-air bath, gazing at the starry sky. In the distance, the faint glow of an Optimus charging station flickered.
"This is right, isn't it? The village is alive."
An Optimus cleaning nearby responded to his murmur.
"Mr. Sato, the village's survival probability is currently 98.7%. Are you satisfied?"
"Haha, I'm satisfied. But let's make it 100%, alright?"
"Understood. Optimization will continue."
Yuto chuckled and sank deeper into the bath.
As steam rose from the hot spring, Okuyama Hot Spring in 2039 quietly but steadily marched toward the future.
THE END