Photo: Yukai Engineering
Cat got your tongue takes on a different meaning with this Yukai Engineering robot. The Japanese robotics startup created the Nékojita FuFu, a cat-shaped robot that can blow air to cool your hot food and drinks. The robot gets its name from the Japanese term "néko-jita," meaning "cat tongue," a phrase used to describe individuals with a low tolerance for hot food. The second part of the name, "FuFu," is an onomatopoeia that captures the sound of blowing air to cool food.
The robot has different blowing modes, including a full-force and a gentler one. It uses an internal fan unit running on a rechargeable battery. It also has a specially developed algorithm or the Fu-ing System that randomizes the strength and rhythm to mimic human breath. The Nékojita FuFu can cool hot water from 88 degrees Celsius to 71 degrees Celsius in three minutes or to 66 degrees Celsius in five minutes. This tiny little robot isn't just meant to cool your coffee. It works with any dishware with a straight edge.
Born from Yukai Engineering's 2024 internal Make-a-Thon, the Nékojita FuFu robot was inspired by a personal challenge faced by Chief Marketing Officer Tsubasa Tominaga. While struggling to cool hot baby food for his son, often leaving him feeling breathless and dizzy, Tominaga recognized a genuine need for a solution.
The company plans to launch Nékojita FuFu in Japan in mid-2025 after a crowdfunding campaign. It will retail for around US$25 or around CA$36. This isn't the only quirky robot Yukai Engineering introduced at CES 2025. You can check out Mirumi here.