TOKYO -- Individual investors are seeking out robot-related stocks in the Tokyo stock market.

Robot-related firms have been attracting renewed interest as an investment target since SoftBank unveiled its first humanoid robot, named "Pepper," on June 5. Interest was stoked further when the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Monday morning that the Japanese government plans to provide subsidies to help the spread of low-priced, easy-to-use robots.

Speculation that Line, which offers a free chat and calling app, may go public also triggered buying of related stocks. But many expect robot-related stocks to boost the market for a longer time, due to their longer development period and broader range of related stocks.

Ryuta Otsuka, strategist at Toyo Securities, said the robot industry has major potential for Japan, which is facing a declining population. The country must resolve issues of aging population and a labor shortage, as these are detrimental to economic growth. The robot technology is likely to help the nation overcome these problems and is regarded as promising in the stock market, Otsuka said.

The Nikkei Stock Average recovered to the 15,000 level for the first time in two months earlier this month. The index's rise has slowed for the moment and has moved in a narrow range of around 15,000. Though the Nikkei index has plateaued, investor demand is still healthy mainly among individual investors. Investors had some time been seeking out quick-moving stocks in the markets for start-ups, but now they have started to look at specific issues such as robot-related stocks.

Cyberdyne and Kikuchi Seisakusho, makers of exoskeleton suits that give the wearer greater lifting strength, are leading robot-related stocks in the stock market. Dai-Ichi Seiko and Kawada Technologies were also purchased as robot-related stocks on Monday.