Sweet boi Punch hanging with papas!! This was when he discovered the selfie mode and was beside himself - he couldn’t stop staring at himself. Who can blame him - he’s a handsome fella!!!

In this pic - I imagine him smelling like baby powder and milk breath!! Please share your fav Punchy boo pics!

How am I supposed to be without daily videos of Punch until the 18th?!

He’s so smol here ☺️

Video on 2/28

Credit: @soa1457937_soa (X)

So sweet they’re 🧡

Traveljapan1m YouTube:

https://youtube.com/shorts/WPzRqP58vUs?si=uPFwyChhjZA6sxz6

Credit: @あずきとアニマル

Video on 8/30

Credit: @zoo-at-home

Credit:Animal Days

he raised his eyebrows…

Video on 8/30

Credit: @go.punch2026

Video on 8/30

Credit: @Animal Days

Credit:uenogardensclub9251 on YouTube

September 1st

Credit to @hyun_lee_7777

Credit: @AnimalDays

Upload date: 18/08/26

The zoo has released an edited version of the video that was shown during Punch’s birthday card exhibition. Translation of the video description using ChatGPT.

Meet Punch, a Japanese macaque living at the Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Gardens. From shortly after he was born, Punch spent his days with a stuffed toy, growing alongside his keeper and gradually becoming part of the troop.

We documented Punch’s growth over the course of about a year.

This video was originally shown exclusively at the “Punch, You’re Doing Great! — Messages from Everyone” exhibition, held to celebrate Punch’s first birthday. With the event now concluded, the video is also being released on YouTube.

From the day Punch was first filmed, through his days with his keeper, to the life he now shares with his fellow monkeys—please watch all the way through to see the 365 days of Punch’s journey.

Article from Emogram explaining more about monkey mountain upgrading work

September 1, 2026
By Yunchi, emogram Editorial Department

At Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, which is known for Punch, viewing of the monkey mountain was suspended starting September 1. The suspension is due to construction work, including the installation of sunshades, and is scheduled to continue through September 18. Some people may wonder, “Does something like this really take that long?” since the work is expected to take about three weeks. We spoke with Section Chief Takashi Yasunaga of the zoo about what the construction involves and why it is taking so many days.

We Asked for More Details About the Construction

First, Section Chief Yasunaga explained what the construction will involve.

Section Chief Yasunaga: “As approved by the Ichikawa City Council in the supplementary budget in June, we will install two new sunshades inside the monkey mountain. We also plan to create areas with soil or wood chips. Essentially, we are adding these facilities to the existing monkey mountain. The structure and overall appearance of the monkey mountain will not change dramatically.”

Some people may have imagined a major renovation, but this is actually a project to add new facilities to the existing monkey mountain.

Why They Chose Not to Undertake a Major Renovation

Some may wonder, “Why not take this opportunity to carry out a more extensive renovation?” Section Chief Yasunaga explained why they deliberately chose not to do so.

Section Chief Yasunaga: “We are currently at an important stage as we prepare to introduce Punch to the troop. As we mentioned in the statement we issued on February 25, titled ‘Regarding the Health Condition of the Japanese Macaque and the Facility Environment,’ carrying out a large-scale renovation that drastically changes the environment of the monkey mountain at this particular time could have a greater impact in the form of stress caused by environmental changes. Therefore, this construction is limited to improvements to the existing monkey mountain, focusing on measures against the heat and expanding the monkeys’ living space.”

Why Does It Take Three Weeks?

During the construction period, visitors will not be able to see Punch and the other monkeys. We also asked about the question many fans have been wondering about: “Why does it take three weeks?”

Section Chief Yasunaga: “Actually, we won’t be working every day for those three weeks. When work is being carried out, the workers have to enter the monkey mountain, which means the monkeys need to be housed in the back area during that time. If we did that every day, it would cause them considerable stress. Just as we do with their daily care, we want to carry out the construction at the monkeys’ pace.”

Does that mean there will be days during the three-week period when no construction work takes place?

Section Chief Yasunaga: “The work itself is not particularly difficult, but we will leave sufficient intervals between workdays. On days when there is no work, the monkeys will be allowed to use the area as usual. In fact, workers will enter the monkey mountain and carry out construction for only a few days during the three-week period. Therefore, we also have to take into account the possibility that the construction schedule could be pushed back if the scheduled workdays are affected by bad weather.”

It has become clear that the extended schedule is not because the construction is progressing slowly. Rather, the work is being carried out while protecting the monkeys’ daily routine as much as possible.

Writer’s Comment

When I heard that the construction period would be “three weeks,” I thought it sounded quite long. Now I understand that this is because the monkeys’ pace is being given the highest priority. I am curious to see how the construction progresses, but more than anything, I am relieved to know that the monkeys should be able to continue their lives as peacefully as possible. I am already looking forward to seeing what the new monkey mountain will look like.

Kiyo-san is back with another new article. Translated with ChatGPT.

Hello, this is kiyo.

We won’t be able to see Punch for a while, will we? I’m sure many people are looking forward to the day visits resume. I feel the same way.

When I watch the videos of Punch that everyone has been posting, I sometimes see scenes where he purses his lips and makes a “poo” sound.

The calls of Japanese macaques each have their own meanings.

When I say they have meanings, some people might misunderstand this as being similar to human speech or conversation. However, they are by no means having conversations. Rather, their emotional state is expressed through their calls.

Macaques do communicate with one another through vocalizations, so as a result, they can engage in exchanges that may seem somewhat like a conversation. However, these are ultimately very simple exchanges of emotions.

Now, when a young macaque purses its lips and makes a “poo” sound, this is something they generally do only until around one year of age at most.

Yesterday, I posted a video of an orphaned baby macaque in circumstances similar to Punch’s. In that video, there are many scenes where the baby also purses its lips and makes the same “poo” sound.

Punch also makes this same kind of pursed-lip call, and I’m sure many of you have seen him doing it.

So, what emotion is he expressing when he does this?

I think this recorded footage is the easiest way to understand it, so please take a look.

This is a video of a baby who has been separated from its mother and is desperately searching for her.

The baby keeps looking around and calling desperately.

In other words, this is the call of a young macaque searching for its mother and calling out to her.

The other day, I showed you a video of a white-haired baby macaque being attacked. That baby was also making the same pursed-lip call.

It can specifically mean that the baby is calling for its mother, but this vocalization is also used simply when the baby is seeking help from those around it.

It is a vocalization that comes from feelings of anxiety and loneliness.

Neither Punch nor the baby I posted about yesterday has a mother.

I think both Punch and yesterday’s baby understand that their mothers are not there.

For that reason, they do not make the same desperate calls as the baby in this video.

The baby in this video is calling desperately in hopes that its mother will find it. Punch and yesterday’s baby, on the other hand, probably make these calls unconsciously.

It is instinctive. Their calls are not particularly loud, and they do not make them very often.

However, the fact that they still instinctively make this call means that, deep down, they are still seeking their mothers.

Punch has already turned one. He is a boy. He has also become quite accustomed to the troop.

But even so, he is still only one year old.

That said, in Punch’s case, because he is living in a zoo environment, we also need to consider another possible meaning.

If he is making this call while facing the door that the keepers use to enter and exit, then it may simply be a plaintive, attention-seeking call because he wants the keeper to come to him.

In any case, when you see Punch still pursing his lips and making that “poo” sound, please remember that he is still feeling anxious and that he still wants someone to comfort and care for him.

But don’t worry.

As Punch himself gradually becomes more settled, these calls should naturally become less frequent.

Author's note:

＊ Unless otherwise noted, the header image, images in the article, and videos were all taken by me personally.

＊ I have compiled articles about each species of wild animal into separate magazines. Please take a look at the previous posts as well.

I thought it was interesting that the zoo hasn't changed much over the years! I also noticed otome, chased off a couple times. She's a very strong resilient monkey, and I think misunderstood. She rose through the ranks and is strict, not mean there's a difference. She is a fierce defender of her family. Anyway, very interesting look at the zoo twenty years ago. This is from youtube and punch tales y2r.