Monkeys as waiters and attenders!!!

One of the monkeys at Kayabukiya. Photo from www.cctv.com

This is a reality in Kayabukiya Tavern in Tokyo, Japan. The tavern belongs to Kaoru Otsuka who owns two pet Macaque monkeys - Yat-Chan (12 yr old) and Fuku-Chan (4 yr old). The older one used to observe the staff at a sushi restaurant. it started imitating them and slowly learnt all by itself  'the art of waiting tables'.  The newly seated customers are welcomed by Yat-chan who offers them hot towels. He then brings them their drink orders. Many customers assume that these animals were trained to replace human labor. but this is not so. the monkeys got into this job all by their own and the authorities do not allow them to work for more than two hrs a day, mostly in the evenings. The monkeys receive boiled soya beans as tips. the younger one Fuku-chan ha s been in this job for over 2 yrs now. The monkeys are well appreciated by customers who are impressed with their understanding of orders. Once household pets, Yat-chan and Fuku-chan are  now certified restaurant employees!

A customer has fun with one of the monkeys.
Photo from oodee.com

Their employer is now ready to train three new baby monkeys this year with the aim of bringing up a new generation of Japanese waiters and waitresses.