Boys

Lion

Oita Temple collections

Fertility symbol
Shrine
Oita-ken, Japan

Near the town of Beppu is Takasaki Mountain where three monkey tribes live. They are semi-wild and can leave the mountain any time they like but they opt to stay as they get fed three times a day. Each tribe comes at a different time. Sometimes they wander off and return. Depends. The nearby highway and railroad takes their toll. Don't touch them, they bite as many signs testify.

Monkeys can be like soap operas. One of the keepers explained to my friend that the headmonkey of one tribe has disappeared since his girlfriend ran off with the headmonkey of a rival tribe. Actually he was the number two monkey in his tribe and she was number one until she ran off. Ah, the heavy price of love.