SoftBank Corp's robot Pepper performs today during a news conference in Maihama, near Tokyo.

URAYASU, Japan — Technology company Softbank's Pepper robot is going on sale in Japan on Saturday, equipped with a “heart” designed to not only recognize human emotions but react with simulations of anger, joy and irritation.

The 48-inch tall robot, which has no legs and moves on wheels, was shown to reporters and guests at a Tokyo area theater today. It has a hairless head and moving arms and went through a year of software development.

It glided proudly on to the stage, conversed with celebrity guests, did a dance, sang a birthday song and demonstrated how it could record family life in photos, and serve as a companion. It appeared to respond with joy when it was praised or stroked.

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son said the company was preparing for a global sales launch with partners Alibaba Group of China and Foxconn of Taiwan. They will each take a 20 percent stake in Softbank's robotics unit, valued at a combined $240 million, to help with software and manufacturing.

Details of when and where it will go on sale outside Japan were still undecided. But Son said the first overseas sales will likely happen next year, with test sales set for later this year. It sells for $1,600 in Japan and 1,000 of the robots will be available each month.

A monthly service fee costs $120 and maintenance insurance another $80. Son hopes to turn the business into the black within five years.

According to Son, the robot will develop its own personality of sorts, depending on how people interact with it. Pepper can remember faces and is programmed to be happy when given attention but becomes depressed when it's not. It will also cheer up sad people and try to mitigate suffering, he said.

Its grip is very weak so it won't hurt those around it, but it also won't be able to clasp and fetch a beer for its owner, Son said.