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Monkey works as waiter in Japanese restaurant

By Gary Fennelly
Monday, 6 October 2008

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A Japanese restaurant is gaining international notoriety after a clip of a macaque monkey serving drinks to its customers was posted on the internet.

Kaoru Otsuka, who owns the restaurant in Utsunomiya, Japan, said he did not teach the sake-serving monkey its waiting skills.

Mr Otsuka claims Yatchan watched him serving customers and remembered how to do it.

"Lots of customers come to look at the monkey. He works everyday," said Mr Otsuka.

The simian, called Yatchan, is also used to serve hot towels to the grateful customers who give him soya beans as tips.

Mr Otsuka said the monkey also likes fruit, but was not fond of the sushi that the restaurant specialises in.

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26 Comments

Right MacDonalds follow that !!!!

Posted by Deek | 18.10.08, 21:46 GMT

Dirty monkeys stealing all our jobs!

Posted by Thomas Willington | 13.10.08, 22:15 GMT

It's all fun and games untill the monkey goes Berzerk,and rips off some customer's arm...but enjoy some sake untill then!

Posted by Dave | 13.10.08, 00:02 GMT

Famicon, I hope you realize that this macaque's social group consists of the patrons of the restaurant, and the other employees. This animal is in no way stressed, as demonstrated by his swift, alert eye movements, and healthy coat. The same can be said for any pack animals, like dogs.

I've been working with animals for almost 30 years here in the California Bay Area. I work closely with the SF Zoo, Oakland Zoo, and the Six Flags Park as a Human Impact consultant. It's my job to observe how we alter the lives of animals, and how we can make them as happy as possible, without completely changing them at their core. Please don't spread ignorance and seed false ideas about animal nature, as it only hinders our understanding as a species about the rest of the world's inhabitants. If humans are to understand nature, and be able to help nature, we must first see past our preconceptions and blind opinions.

Posted by Leslie James DVM | 12.10.08, 22:34 GMT

Understanding that we can't turn back the clock - wildlife reserves are All in peril-we could all contribute to wildlife conservation efforts. If people already Have wildlife - encouraging them to take pride in their care and focus on providing an engaging, interactive, rewarding environment is always more productive than criticizing them for having the animal in the first place. When people truly enjoy animals - the animals usually have a good life.
I would bet this primate has a pretty soft bed to sleep on:)

Posted by Noelle | 10.10.08, 20:46 GMT

I agree Tom Bailey, The monkey got my vote for a job in Congress!

Posted by Robert | 10.10.08, 02:39 GMT

I love the idiot that said "liberal attitudes have caused the entire world economy to fail"...hahaha, that's hilarious. Yea buddy, keep drinking the Kool Aid. Try criminal bankers and their engineered collapse have caused the world economy to fail, but hey, don't let the facts get in your way. The little monkey in the video is by far more intelligent than you.

Posted by The Man | 10.10.08, 01:14 GMT

This is how planet of the apes began.

Posted by SamT | 10.10.08, 00:17 GMT

Monkeys are all cute and funny until they get there hands on guns. Before long they will have us in cages.

Posted by fujioko | 09.10.08, 22:48 GMT

Wow, people are making a big deal out of this!

Do people call it cruel when a dog will fetch the paper for a treat? No? Then why make a fuss over a monkey fetching a bottle or a towel? The only difference is that it's in a restaurant.

Posted by Mike | 09.10.08, 17:35 GMT

I wonder if the monkey would consider running for Congress here in the U.S.? Maybe their approval rating would go up.

Posted by Tom Bailey | 09.10.08, 16:53 GMT

He's a good server, he's intelligent, and he has excellent manners. I'd hire him if he came in looking for work. Does he have relatives just like himself? Send them by to fill out an application.

Wait, do payroll taxes apply to monkeys?

Posted by Roland Ansgar | 09.10.08, 16:15 GMT

It doesn't look cruel. He's getting fed treats. Would this be cruel if a child was doing the same thing? Maybe you all should care more about humans that are being mistreated. Maybe you should go lay in front of a logging truck or sit in a tree with an endangered albino rino or something. Get a clue! Your liberal attitudes have caused the entire world economy to nearly fail! Go do some real work, and quit your whiney attitude!

Posted by dw | 09.10.08, 09:52 GMT

I agree with those who want him put into the wild where he will be subject to disease, attack, and an inevitably painful but natural death. I love these primates, and it is cruel to give them have a care-free life. Let them suffer as nature intended.

Posted by John Q | 09.10.08, 08:25 GMT

The monkey has free will friends... He picked up his serving skills from MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO. Surely they don't MAKE him be a waiter. Besides he is rewarded for his efforts... don't you read the article? This monkey is loved and has a good life. Yatchan is clearly not stressed or upset.

And about living natural lives... What is natural of our own lives? That's what I thought. Yatchan doesn't need to worry about the predators and poisonous snakes in the wild because he's clearly safer in a restaurant.

Now how about you go cry about the sled dogs?

Posted by kelly | 09.10.08, 05:32 GMT

Some of you guys are crazy thinking this is cruel. Lets see, do I wanna be in the jungle where I am constantly having to worry about something hunting me, or do I want to hang out and bring people drinks every now and then? Let me think about that.

That's about like saying it's cruel to let a woman get a job, because they belong in the kitchen or something like that. Get real.

Posted by badmedia | 09.10.08, 04:36 GMT

Monkeys SHOULD be working for us. He probably gets in his little monkey car after work and goes out for a few monkey drinks then goes home and beats the monkey wife and kicks the monkey cat.

Posted by Art | 09.10.08, 04:34 GMT

Wonder if he washes his hands after using the toilet or whether all those lovely hot towels are smothered in traces of urine and faeces... Now that'd be entertaining!

Posted by SuperChick | 08.10.08, 23:46 GMT

This is cruel exploitation and some of the crass ignorant comments on this thread show how far we still have to go to become civilised. Monkeys live in large social groups and suffer severe stress and upset when remved from their natural environment. They often have their teeth knocked out to stop them biting customers and frequently many adult monkeys are slaughtered to remove infants for the pet trade. Anyone who thinks this is amusing is sick.

Posted by Famicon | 08.10.08, 15:58 GMT