Learn Japanese with Punch

Punch the Monkey was born during a heatwave in Chiba, Japan.
It was his mother’s first baby. She was stressed and overwhelmed, and rejected him.

かわいそう (kawaisō) — poor thing.
That is what many people said. かわいそう carries empathy, it acknowledges pain.

But the zookeepers asked for something more.

Not only かわいそう, but 応援 (ōen)- support.
They asked the world to say: がんばって (ganbatte)- hang in there, keep going. And to watch over him -見守る (mimamoru) as he grows - 成長 (seichō).

He clings to his stuffed orangutan - ぬいぐるみ (nuigurumi) called Oran-Mama. Slowly, carefully, he is being reintroduced to the 群れ (mure) - troop.

There is しつけ (shitsuke) too — guidance, upbringing, the gentle correction that helps him to learn social skills - 社会性 (shakaisei) in the monkey society.

And if all goes well, one day there will be 親離れ (oyabanare) - independence from the parent/ caregiver, a necessary step.

And with every 親離れ (oyabanare) comes 子離れ (kobanare) - the parent/ caregiver letting go.

Are we ready for kobanare?