Emotional Machines: The Technological Transformation of Intimacy in Japan (EMTECH) is a five-year scientific project funded by the European Research Council and hosted by Freie Universität Berlin, with research partners in Japan.

EMTECH explores the complex interaction between humans and new emerging technologies in order to find out if and in what forms humans create affective bonds to (emotionally intelligent) machines. Through interdisciplinary research in the fields of Japanese studies, literary and cultural studies, anthropology and the affective sciences, it determines what forms, functions and effects these affective bonds might have in both private and public spheres of everyday life in Japan. Furthermore, the project investigates what humans can learn about their feelings (affects/emotions) through new emerging technologies.