Yukai Engineering's Mirumi companion robot just launched on Kickstarter after stealing hearts at CES 2025. The tiny furry bot that does nothing but look cute and simulate curiosity starts at $118 for early backers, nearly double its expected $70 price tag. While it won't clean your floors or answer emails, Mirumi's simple charm might be exactly what the companion robot market needs.
The companion robot space just got a lot more adorable. Yukai Engineering finally pulled the trigger on Mirumi's Kickstarter launch after months of anticipation since the robot's CES 2025 debut. But there's a catch - that cute little companion now costs significantly more than anyone expected.
Early Kickstarter backers can snag Mirumi for 18,360 yen (around $118) in gray, pink, or ivory fur options. Wait too long and you'll pay 21,803 yen ($140), still below the planned $150 retail price. The price jump from the original $70 estimate reflects what Yukai Engineering diplomatically calls "a lot has happened around the world since January" - likely referring to supply chain pressures and potential tariff impacts.
Mirumi represents a fascinating bet on emotional robotics over functional utility. While robotic vacuums and smart home assistants dominate consumer robotics, Mirumi does absolutely nothing practical. It clips onto bag straps with long mechanical arms and simply watches the world go by, turning its head curiously and occasionally focusing on nearby people through distance sensors.
The robot's behavioral programming mimics infant-like responses - it'll appear interested in strangers but turn away bashfully when someone suddenly appears or tries to touch it. These simple interactions create what Yukai Engineering describes as a companion that "benefits others more often" by bringing smiles to passersby who encounter the curious little creature.
This approach contrasts sharply with the functionality-first mindset driving most robotics development. While Boston Dynamics builds warehouse workers and Amazon develops household assistants, Mirumi strips robotics down to pure emotional connection. The question is whether consumers will pay premium prices for digital cuteness.
The crowdfunding timeline adds another layer of uncertainty. Mirumi won't ship until April 2026 at the earliest, giving backers plenty of time to second-guess a $118 purchase for a robot that exists primarily to be adorable. That 16-month wait also means competing with whatever new companion robots hit the market by then.
