Robot sociologist Naho Kitano explains that the Japanese view technology as a tool for improving life, whereas Westerners tend to view robotics through a lens that is often colored by religion. While the Japanese are less inclined to view robot science as interfering with nature or God, they still assign a level of sentiment to their creations. We learn that Aibo pet robots are given "souls" and when their bodies fail to work properly it is common for a soul removal ceremony, complete with chanting and drums, to take place before any usable parts are repurposed.