By RYUTA KURATOMI/ Staff Writer
May 1, 2023 at 16:54 JST
OITA--The public celebrated the birth of the first Japanese macaque this year by naming it Peppermill after the pepper-grinding gesture popularized by Samurai Japan players during the recent World Baseball Classic.
The celebratory gesture after a hit or a home run was introduced to the team by Lars Nootbaar, who first started using it with his major league team, the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Although a monkey can’t become a baseball player, we hope Peppermill will grow up to be bright and cheerful like Nootbaar,” a zoo staff member said.
The first baby monkey was confirmed this year on April 30 at Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, where visitors can get close to the wild monkeys as they are fed.
The zoo chooses the name of the first macaque born each year from a traditional public vote.
This year, there were 948 votes, with 42 votes going to “Peppermill.” It was followed by “Pepper,” at 34 votes, “Samurai,” at 29 votes and “Mill,” at 25 votes.
Many of the names were inspired by Japan's triumph in the WBC.
Macaques begin giving birth on Takasakiyama mountain every year around this time.
The birthing season lasts until August, and the zoo expects about 150 monkeys to be born this year in the currently confirmed troops “B group” and “C group.”
Peppermill is a male, and his mother is 7-year-old Maboroshi of the B group. He is Maboroshi’s second baby.
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Maboroshi the macaque gently holds her baby named Peppermill in Oita on April 30. (Provided by Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden)
