This handsome macaque wearing a yukata is one of Japan’s most famous monkeys.
Yat-chan is a waiter at the Kayabukiya Tavern, a traditional sake-house restaurant (izakaya) in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo.
Although Yat-chan has relinquished most of his waiter duties to younger monkeys, he became famous around the world when videos of him serving drinks and entertaining guests were posted on YouTube.
I visited the Kayabukiya Tavern in 2017, and got to hang out with Yat-chan, another boisterous adult macaque, and two baby monkeys.
My finest memory is Yat-chan wobbling from the kitchen, and handing me a hot towel from a silver tray.
Although the restaurant has been given the all-clear by Japanese animal rights groups, I felt a little uncomfortable as the restaurant owner – Kaoru Otsuka – always carries a big stick.
I didn’t see Kaoru use the stick to threaten his simian staff, but I didn’t do anything to make the monkeys overexcited or unruly – just in case.
