Welcome to the official website of the Japan Monkey Centre (JMC). The JMC houses the largest number of nonhuman primate species in the world. We receive visitors from all over the world. We provide our visitor's guide in five different languages. Select a language below and see for yourself.
Primates is the oldest English-language Primatology journal, published since 1957 by the Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) through Springer in collaboration with Primate Society Japan. The object of this journal is to facilitate the research on the entire aspect of nonhuman primates in connection with man. Museum section of JMC is taking on the role of delegating editorial board members/advisory board members/editor-in-chief, hosting editorial board meeting, and editorial operation of the journal Primates.
More Info
The Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) was proud to revive the 're’brand-new journal, Monkey, on June 23, 2016. Monkey was first published in 1957 and was released regularly by the JMC up until 2001. In 2016, the 60th year since the founding of the JMC, the center recommenced publishing the journal newly subtitled as Monkey: From Primatology to Wildlife Science. (Note: this journal is written in Japanese.) The revitalized journal format comprises 20+ pages featuring plenty of color photographs. The new Monkey, with editions appearing quarterly, has become even more fascinating, informative, and fun. To subscribe, and/or for further information, please visit: j-monkey.jp
More Info
From left: Maruko, Mamoru, and Marilyn. Mamoru seems to want to play with Marilyn.
A female chimpanzee called Marilyn, then 22 years old (estimated), was transferred to the Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) in autumn 2011. She was born in a zoo overseas and relocated at a young age to another zoo, which was using chimpanzees in entertainment shows for the public. She grew up, spent her formative years, at this zoo. When she arrived at the JMC, she didn't possess the social skills required to 'be a chimpanzee among other chimpanzees'. For example, she did not know how to greet her group-mates, or how to interact with them properly. Repeated injuries obliged the JMC to suspend Marilyn's group social life temporarily in order to ensure her health and safety.
However, it is vital for chimpanzees, as very social beings, to be given the opportunity and encouraged to interact socially with other chimpanzees. The JMC staff did not give up hope of being able to provide the social life that every chimpanzee deserves. This is especially important because chimpanzees are very intelligent and have a life expectancy of over 50 years in a captive environment.
A year and a half has passed since the JMC started the re-socialization challenge. Thanks to the devoted efforts of our highly skilled staff, Marilyn has made forward progress gradually, step-by-step. Marilyn now sometimes gives friendly gestures towards her group mates, especially to Marco and Mamoru (Mamoru is Marco's son, born in 2014). They have got used to spending time together, a little bit at a time. Mamoru sometimes invites Marilyn to play with her, though Marilyn still tends to hold back. Marilyn and Mamoru sometimes play together in front of Marco. Yesterday evening, we had some good news: a JMC staff-member saw Marco and Marilyn make eye contact, looking into each other's eyes and grooming each other. Marco has previously been observed to groom Marilyn. However, this was the very first time that we have been able to confirm that Marilyn groomed Marco in return! The JMC continues to be committed to encouragibng social interaction among all JMC chimpanzees.
Photo © Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University / Itani Junichiro Archives
The discipline of Primatology started in Japan on December 3rd, 1948. The late Kinji Imanishi (1902-1992) and his two students, from Kyoto University, went to Koshima Island to observe wild Japanese monkeys.
Discover
Photo © Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University / Itani Junichiro Archives
Photo © Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University / Itani Junichiro Archives
JMC was founded on October 17th to promote research, education, conservation, welfare, and communication to the public regarding nonhuman primates.
DiscoverThe Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) exhibits the largest number of nonhuman primate species in the world - ranging from pygmy marmosets to gorillas.
Come and meet usMonkey Valley
Japanese macaques show the behavior of washing sweet potatoes and other food in the stream in Monkey Valley. They put the sweet potatoes inside the water, and rub them against the rocks. They would do it several times during the whole eating procedure. They also show this behavior with other food including apples.
Sweet potato washing in Japanese macaques was first observed in a natural troop in Koshima Islet, Japan, and was regarded as a pre-cultural behavior (Kawai, 1965; Hirata et al., 2001). Though rubbing behavior is quite common in macaques (Torigoe, 1985), the behavior of rubbing objects inside the water which the monkeys in JMC show is rare and interesting. The interesting behavior could be easily observed when monkeys are given food: The feeding time is 3:30 - 4:00 pm. Please come and enjoy!
Photo: 'Lamb's-ear' is a male infant ring-tailed lemur, aged about six months. He is gradually acquiring essential social skills from his mother and group-mates of the same age as he is.
Wao Land
One of the must-see exhibits at the JMC is 'Wao Land', offering a close encounter with free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs. The Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) population is declining due to unsustainable levels of hunting in the wild. This species was re-assessed as "Endangered" in 2014: two ranks up from its previous "Near Threatened" on the IUCN's Red List. In 2014, the JMC General Director Tetsuro Matsuzawa PhD, at that time also the International Primatological Society President, posted a video message celebrating the birth of the 'World Lemur Festival’ which promotes awareness of lemurs as an endangered species. The JMC organized a craft workshop to coincide with this Lemur festival, as well as a talk session in 2016. The JMC continues to strive to optimise the welfare of lemurs housed at the JMC and to promote the conservation of their wild counterparts.
KIDS ZOO
The 'KIDS ZOO' is the only area inside the JMC where you can enjoy petting/stroking various different species of animals, about thirty. Recently, the 'KIDS ZOO' had the pleasure of welcoming a stunningly adorable kid - a baby goat. A baby goat, who was born on November of the previous year, and is yet to be named, enjoyed her debut into the outdoor area of the 'KIDS ZOO', under the supervision of her mum 'Sazae'. The JMC is now holding a poll to decide her name and will be accepting your vote until March. This time, the naming-theme is the SEA, because her mum and dad were both named after sea produce. Visit the JMC now and vote for your favourite name choice!
In addition, in the ‘KIDS ZOO’ there are many fluffy animals such as degus, guinea pigs and rabbits; exotic animals such as Madagascar hissing cockroaches and leopard geckos; local wildlife: insects which are popular with children such as beetles, and so on. A visit to the KIDS ZOO is a perfect opportunity to handle many different animals.
A female baby François's Langur was born in April 2016. This species is listed as endangered on the IUCN's Red List. The populations are rapidly decreasing in the wild, with fewer than 2,000 individuals estimated to be left in China due primarily to habitat loss and hunting. The newborn baby, later named 'Nii', was born coloured entirely gold; completely different from the adults (see the black hair of her mother in the background of in the photo). This all-over golden colour is seen only up until about 3 months of age. Right now, her whole body is black with white cheek patches.
Asian House
African Center
A female Abyssinian colobus, later named ‘Iroha', was born, in July 2015, entirely white in color, completely different to her mum. Infants' body color gradually changes to be the same color as adults, over a period of 6 to 7 months. Colobinae show ‘allomothering' behaviour - females other than the infant's mothers carry and handle them. This interesting behaviour happened in this case too. Another female, ‘Lemmon', began carrying the newborn ‘Iroha' from the very first day. And sometimes during Iroha's early infancy, she was even carried more often by ‘Lemmon' than by her mum ‘Yellow'. This behaviour became less and less frequent as Iroha grew up. Six months passed and ‘Lemmon' became a mother herself. Now, the roles were reversed. ‘Yellow' became eager to carry Lemmon's infant.
African House
Squirrel monkey land
Of all the things that they eat, Bolivian squirrel monkeys love to eat insects most of all. So, they spend a large amount of their time foraging for insects. It's really rare for any insects that have strayed into the JMC ‘Squirrel monkey land’ to live to a ripe old age, because that is where our Bolivian squirrel monkeys are living.
However, having said that, sometimes they do eat other things. The eldest Bolivian squirrel monkey at the JMC is called ‘Otome’. From the look of it, she has just been enjoying licking the honeydew on winterberries. The yellow pollens clinging to her mouth give it away!
Two months have passed since 'Hasu' the Bolivian squirrel monkey was born. This inquisitive and naughty boy sometimes moves away from his mother. However, naturally, being on his mum's back is his favorite place to be of all! Hasu’s presence in the group provides good social enrichment among the others in his group: over twenty-five individualss.
Shhhh! Don't disturb this Bolivian squirrel monkey taking a nap. They look very comfortable indeed :)
Monkey Scramble
April 23, 2015
June 10th, 2015
A baby Japanese macaque was born March 18, 2016 at Regenstein Macaque Forest, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. Congratulations! See adorable photos of the baby cuddling with Izumi on http://www.lpzoo.org/
Photos © Jillian Braun / Lincoln Park Zoo
Dr. Lydia Hopper, Assistant Director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, sent an enchanting photo of Japanese macaque Ono and her son, Obu. She gave birth to Obu on May 2nd, 2015.
The eight Japanese monkeys have moved to Lincoln Park Zoo from JMC. They are now exploring their new exhibit.
Photo ©Todd Rosenberg / Lincoln Park Zoo
Do you want to give a unique gift to your favourite nonhuman primates?
Interested in encouraging natural behavior?
Then apply for this activity program and make special treats for your favourite JMC nonhuman primates with our animal care staff. You will make 'secret' gifts, which contain things that they eat in the wild These treats: 1) give the animals a fun activity to do and 2) increase the amount of time of time they spend foraging (looking for food).
Our animal care staff will give you hints/clues as to which food each type of primate likes to eat.
What is more, our animal care staff will deliver the gifts, that you have just made specially, to your favourite primates while you watch! You will be able to see them enjoying searching for the food hidden in your special gifts. Great fun! Please note that dates and times may change without notice. Please confirm the details with JMC staff close to the event.
The 62nd Conference will be held
on January 27th and 28th, 2018.
Look at the JMC chimpanzees through binoculars while listening to the expert? Learn about chimpanzee behaviour such as what their different postures and gestures mean.
SAGA (Support for African/Asian Great Apes) is a non-profit consortium founded in 1998 by scientists specialising in great apes, zoo staff, and other experts.
SAGA was founded with three main goals: 1) to conserve the natural habitat of wild great apes; 2) to enrich the lives of those in captivity, and; 3) to bring an end to the use of great apes as subjects in invasive studies. SAGA holds an annual symposium within Japan. Having achieved the third founding goal: great apes are no longer used as subjects in invasive studies within Japan, SAGA continues to expand its vision and remit. At recent symposiums, SAGA has additionally focused on promoting awareness of good welfare practice, in order to enrich the quality of the lives of the animals with whom we share the planet. The Japan Monkey Centre is the proud host of the 20th SAGA symposium which will be held on November 04-05, 2017. This is an event you won’t want to miss. The JMC looks forward to welcoming you all to SAGA20.
The train station closest to the Japan Monkey Centre is the Meitetsu Inuyama Station; less than 30 min train-ride from Nagoya Station. From Meitetsu Inuyama Station to the Japan Monkey Centre, it takes 5 min by bus or taxi and 20 min walking. When leaving the station, take the East exit.
Admission Prices
Days Closed
The Japan Monkey Centre is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday; the centre will also be closed on some additional weekdays (although it is open on all Japanese Public holidays). Please check the calendar before you visit: days when the JMC is closed to the public are shaded in grey .
Opening Hours
Free 30 minute talks introducing their research themes
As a museum, the Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) is dedicated to maintain and catalogue stored specimens of the remains of dead animals. The database of our Captive Primate Collection (CaPriCo) will eventually provide detailed information for over 6,300 individual specimens stored at the JMC.
A sub-set of the information on skeletal specimens is already available. We are currently attempting to secure additional funding, to allow us to input and make available all data on skeletal and formalin-preserved specimens of brains, digestive organs and parasite specimens.
Experienced staff are always on-hand to tell visitors about the JMC and to answer any questions. We have information displays and also taxidermist specimens and skeletons of nonhuman primates. We hold special exhibitions on a wide variety of different themes.
You can enter this outdoor enclosure and experience a close encounter with free-moving ring-tailed lemurs.
Bolivian squirrel monkeys can be seen moving freely within the dense undergrowth on a small, nearby island.
From this observation platform, you can see 160 Japanese Yaku-macaques living in a 4,000 m2 valley. From the winter solstice until the end of February, on weekends and holidays, see Japanese Yaku-macaques warming themselves by a real bonfire. The tradition of lighting bonfires for the monkeys began in 1957, after Japanese Yaku-macaques were observed to gather around the fires lit by staff to burn fallen trees following the Isewan Typhoon. This new ‘bonfire-season’ soon became established as a well-known, and cherished, annual event.
Your donation will enable us, here at the Japan Monkey Centre, not only to provide a suitably enriched quality of life to the apes, monkeys and prosimians housed at the JMC, but also to help in the conservation of their threatened counterparts living in the wild.
Donate Now
The Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) has now been a ‘Public Interest Incorporated Foundation’ for two full years. This change in status was in recognition of its stated aim to contribute to the public interest, through promoting research and advancing education. Here at the JMC, we are committed to optimising the welfare of nonhuman primates housed here by making small positive changes to their lives day after day. Trees and hammocks have been added to their living space to encourage natural behavior. A range of special foraging devices were also added to increase the time they spend searching for and gathering food. Much of their day in the wild would be spent in this type of activity, so it is important to encourage time spent on this in their captive environment. Every day, when we leave the JMC to go back to our homes, we ask ourselves: “Did we make a positive difference to the lives of our primates today? What more can we do to make their life even better?" Although we have made considerable progress, we still have more work to do. Many issues are awaiting to be improvement. Our residents deserve optimised physical and mental well-being. We need your generous help. Please support us and make a donation via this online donation form by credit card payment.
One of the best things for us about working at the JMC, is seeing young visitors’ faces light up as they enjoy watching our nonhuman primates. Sadly, the wild habitat of these adorable and amazing nonhuman primates is disappearing fast. At the current rate, many of them will be extinct in the wild by the time these children have become adults. It is difficult for us to adequately explain to these young visitors how we can allow these wild creatures to lose their homes and family and friends through environmental destruction caused by us? How can we ignore this fact, without doing anything to safeguard the future of our planet? It is important to realize that it is our responsibility. There are many ways to improve the situation. In recognition, the JMC has created an International Conservation Division with the express aim of conserving the natural habitat that remains on this Earth. Together with the local government and local people, we will support conservation and sustainable development of these vitally important natural habitats. We hope we can count on you for your generous support.
Please let us know by specifying it on your application form.
The Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) is a 'Public Interest Incorporated Foundation', certified by the Japanese government to be acting in the service of the public interest. Therefore, all donations to the JMC are eligible for tax breaks: deductible from your taxable income for income tax.
JMC membership provides great benefits and privileges throughout the whole year. You can also support the JMC by becoming a member. As a member, you get free admission to the JMC, free parking, as well as special access to members-only events.
Sign Up as a Member
By becoming a member of the Japan Monkey Centre, you get free admission to the JMC for a whole year, including free parking.
We also hold an exclusive members-only event twice a year. At such events you may: receive news and highlights of what is happening in the center; be treated to a tour of behind-the-scenes areas; take part in fun and interactive activities, and much more! .
Japan Monkey Centre
