Photo by jasperdoest | Traditional sarumawashi performances feature a trainer coaching a monkey through acrobatic stunts. The main stage at Nikko Saru Gundan specializes in glitzier, scripted productions with up to six monkeys, elaborate sets, and multiple costume changes. In contemporary Japan, the Japanese macaque has gone from a revered religious symbol to secular scapegoat—a defaced outcast and a target of mockery, sacred no more. Globally, such attractions are increasingly controversial because of concern for animals’ welfare. Follow jasperdoest to learn more about the human-wildlife relationship. #sarumawashi #wildlifetourism #japan #monkey