Why are Japanese Humanoid Robots So Often Women

Why are Japanese humanoid robots so often women: A question prompted by "Erika," a android who speaks natural conversations.

Q:

Say konnichiwa to Erica, the android who can have “completely natural” conversations
Scott Wilson, Rocket News 24, 5 August 2015
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/08/05/say-konnichiwa-to-erica-the-android-who-can-have-completely-natural-conversations

A:

Rise of the Fembots: Why Artificial Intelligence Is Often Female
Tanya Lewis, Live Science, 19 February 2015 07:15am ET
http://www.livescience.com/49882-why-robots-female.html

Woman or machine? New robots look creepily human
AP, USA Today, 24 June 2014
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/06/24/robots-creepily-human/11302235/
Robots mentioned include
- Hiroshi Ishiguro, OsakaUniversity (himself)
- Kodomoroid
- Otonaroid
- Pepper

Why Siri's Voice Is Now A Man (And A Woman)
Bianca Bosker, Huffington Post, 11 June 2013
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11/siri-voice-man-woman_n_3423245.html
- a man’s voice saying what a woman would say would creep  you out.

Clifford Nass and Corina Yen, 2010. The Man Who Lied to His Laptop: What Machines Teach Us About Human Relationships
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1617230049/

Clifford Nass, 2010. The Man Who Lied to His Laptop (Lecture)
https://youtu.be/lCuW2VOeS9Y