Oita zoo names baby monkey Piko after PPAP singer

They named a monkey after a leopard? Where did the study zoology?

Isn't it offensive (like using the N word to African Americans) for a Japanese to be called or associated with monkeys?

You mean like the J-Rock Band called Yellow Monkey?

The zoo drew some criticism in Japan in 2015 after choosing the name Charlotte for a baby monkey that year in honor of Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the second child of Britain's Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine.

As a british citizen, I was deeply offended by this. But then I read here..

The zoo kept the name after the Oita prefectural government sought advice from the British Embassy in Tokyo. The embassy replied that it had no comment or complaint about the matter, according to prefectural officials.

If this in fact is true, and they didn't mean to offend then fine.  The question is are they prepared to name a monkey after a member of the imperial family?

I wish I'd had the chance to vote, given "Trump" was only 25 votes short.

If it's anything like Nagano, I suspect there will be plenty of wild monkeys (macaques) in Oita, the mountainous bits at least, so you don't have to go to the zoo to see them. Just go to some onsen up in the hills.

This dedication is about 6 months late. The hype over Pikotaro is looooong gone

Japanese girls really love macaque.

Whipsnade Zoo has a baby elephant named Elizabeth after the Queen. (The two have met)

There's a koala in Queensland named Bowie, after the Starman.

A baby monkey in Costa Rica who lost an ear in an accident was named Vincent, after Van Gogh.

There's no problem in naming an animal after a person as a sign of respect.

Good job the name 'Trump' lost. That would have been very disrespectful to monkeydom.

The form submitted did not originate from the expected site

sigh. I thought this had been fixed.

Feeling sorry for Mao Asada, in voters' eyes lumped with Piko and Trump.

At least she is has done something worthwhile for a long time and is modest about it.

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (CED - compulsive eating disorder) has more to worry about than having a monkey named after her.

Well, there's no doubt a rather strong resemblance.

The zoo drew some criticism in Japan in 2015 after choosing the name Charlotte for a baby monkey that year in honor of Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the second child of Britain's Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine.

Same as millions of ppl who call their pet Elvis, Ronaldo, Diana etc.

As for Piko, the bloke took a silly monkey pet name as stage name, can't complain about a zoo doing the same can he!? Am sure he's fine with it, for one he doesn't take himself too seriously plus he seems to be the kind of 'artist' who thinks any publicity is good publicity.

Would actually go as far as to say that calling a baby monkey 'Piko" is pretty low on the list of silly stuff remotely related to Piko Taro in the last couple of years (it probably even enhances his credibility slightly).

Why would you be offended? It had nothing to do with you.

That's a stupid thing to say. If someone insults your head of state, you have a right to be offended.

Or did you just feel that it was a good chance to be offended by something?

Another stupid comment.

Save your outrage for something that really deserves it.

Like?

There's no problem in naming an animal after a person as a sign of respect.

Cleo, do you think that the Japanese public would have reacted positively if a zoo in the UK had named a monkey after Hisahito or one of the other imperial monarchs? 

If the monkey isn't offended neither am I.

Do you feel that because the Japanese  might not have reacted positevely in a hypothetical situation you have to feel offended by one of thouse described in the article?

I don't have to do anything Jane.  But I believe in the golden rule.  For example, If I get offended if someone insults my mother, say by making "yo mama is so fat" jokes, I will not insult YOUR mother with a joke like that even if you have no problem with it. I would be a hypocrite if I did.  

If yes, would you indeed agree with the Japanese if they did not act positively?

Of course. I would be just as offended. My wife and son are Japanese.  So I would consider it an insult.  Go back and look at my posts.  Go and see if you can find anything, ANYTHING, where I criticize the imperial family. Never have. Never will.  

If not, would you (as usual) find a way to tell them how out of touch with the rest of the world (and reality) they are?

Jane, that is a stupid and provoking question. I will not dignify it with an answer.

Words in any order are just words, not magic, not reasonable excuse for action other than to respond in kind.

People can be offended all they like and that is entirely your right, but your or anyones offense is not reason in itself not to do or say something.

148 went for Piko, beating the 123 entries for Trump after U.S. President Donald Trump

He just can't win a popular vote, can he? Must have been the illegal zoo enthusiasts who did it.

He just can't win a popular vote, can he? Must have been the illegal zoo enthusiasts who did it.

That was brilliant!

On a more serious note, maybe its good that he didn't win. 

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sued comedian Bill Maher in February 2013 over a joke, and it eerily foreshadows Trump's presidential campaign.

Maher joked that he would donate $5 million to Trump's chosen charity if he released a birth certificate proving his father was not an orangutan.

Scott Balber, a New York-based attorney representing Trump, responded to Maher's joke by sending Maher a photocopy of Trump's short-form birth certificate and instructions about payment, according to public court records obtained by ATTN:.

There's more..

https://www.attn.com/stories/12009/donald-trumps-2013-lawsuit-against-bill-maher-reveals-lot-about-his-campaign

I would be more insulted having my name linked to a multinational fruit company in an advertising photo unrelated to the article. But that's just my personal opinion, and probably not Pikotaro's.

Well, I'd argue the monkey has more talent, will last longer, and draw in more people, but the monkey is probably a lot more modest and doesn't care anyway.

Gotta agree with smithinjapan, the monkey has more talent. Far more! Although the monkey SHOULD draw more of a crowd than this gimmicky so-called talentless, talent or "artist" (sic). How about naming him after the monkey?

Poor monkey.

Aly Rustom May 17  08:00 am JST

The zoo drew some criticism in Japan in 2015 after choosing the name Charlotte for a baby monkey that year in honor of Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the second child of Britain's Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine.

As a british citizen, I was deeply offended by this. But then I read here..

You need to find more important things by which to be "deeply offended," like your PM and Brexit.

You need to find more important things by which to be "deeply offended," like your PM and Brexit.

Why be deeply offended by Brexit? There was no insult there. The people voted to leave. Why would I be offended? Disappointed yes. Very much so. But this is something that doesn't require being offended.  The people living there made a choice, same as the Americans did in choosing Trump. Brexit was decided on democratically.  You are totally wrong on this one Jeff.

do you think that the Japanese public would have reacted positively if a zoo in the UK had named a monkey after Hisahito or one of the other imperial monarchs?

That's a good question. I think many Japanese wouldn't; not because they named the animal after the child, but because the given names of members of the Japanese Imperial family are rarely used - it can be taken as a sign of disrespect. In Japan, Prince Naruhito is always Kotaishi; Emperor Akihito is always Tenno Heika. I don't think I've ever heard the little boy referred to officially as anything but Hisahito Shinno or Akishino Wakamiya.

Then again, many Japanese would probably be tickled by it.

If they call the monkey "Charlotte-sama" then it's all good.

That's a good question. I think many Japanese wouldn't; not because they named the animal after the child, but because the given names of members of the Japanese Imperial family are rarely used - it can be taken as a sign of disrespect. In Japan, Prince Naruhito is always Kotaishi; Emperor Akihito is always Tenno Heika. I don't think I've ever heard the little boy referred to officially as anything but Hisahito Shinno or Akishino Wakamiya.

Then again, many Japanese would probably be tickled by it.

Thanks for answering my question cleo; even though i asked it well after you posted your comment.