Independent robot creator Hajime Sakamoto created the Hajime 33 robot as the latest iteration of his entry into the annual RoboCup Japan Open robot soccer tournament in Osaka, Japan. But what makes this robot special is that it shows us a slightly more sophisticated aesthetic treatment of the robot's look than what is usually found at the event.

Swathed in shiny black plastic and metal, the Hajime 33 (winner of the Robotics Society of Japan prize) won't fool any unsuspecting human, but its humanoid direction indicates how far the gap has closed between major robot manufacturers like Honda and small independent roboticists throughout Japan. You can see video of the Hajime 33 in action here.

Via Mainichi News