100910-0011 - Monkey Trainer

Children observe a traveling monkey trainer and his highly trained Japanese macaque monkey.

The art of sarumawashi (猿回し) evolved over a thousand years and was originally a religious ritual designed to protect the horses of samurai. It eventually became a very popular form of entertainment.

Featuring acrobatic stunts and comedic skits, the art survived its near death in the 1970s and is still performed today.