Why the U.S. is not as good at robotics as Japan

Mainly, the choice of robot function direction is not quite the same.

Broadly speaking there are many different forms of robots, the most used are still multi-functional robotic arms in the workshop as well as sweeping robots for home use. Here I think you mean the human or beast-shaped ones that are similar in size to a human.

Japanese robots are more like a development from anime culture, and are mainly used for home use as daily service, life assistants, and sex toys, with anthropomorphism, simulation, and overall design affinity as the main considerations. While the U.S. robots are mainly used for military (transportation, mine clearance, rescue, etc.), the main considerations are efficiency, durability and maintenance costs.

Only on the overall strength of robotics technology, Japan and the United States have a lot to offer, the United States thanks to its own strong economic strength and technological reserves, Japan's personal feeling more thanks to the hard work of the relevant staff, the spirit of the workforce, as well as the contemporary culture and the general public on the robot's enthusiasm.