Japan’s ‘Monkey Buster’ grannies armed with guns take on monkeys terrorising their village

Three elderly women in a Japanese village have formed a group called the “Monkey Busters” to protect local farms after monkeys repeatedly raided crops and produce, turning the grandmothers into an unlikely line of defence against the animals.

The group comprises Masako Ishimura, 74, Tatsuko Kinoshita, 68, and Miyuki Ii, 67. According to Japanese news website Fukuishimbun.com, the women live in Keiishi Town in Fukui Prefecture and patrol their neighbourhoods wearing aprons and using air guns to scare away the crop-raiding monkeys.

Their name, “Monkey Busters”, is a playful nod to the famous Ghostbusters franchise, reflecting their mission to drive away the animals threatening the village’s agricultural produce.


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How the grandmothers became ‘Monkey Busters’

Monkeys began appearing in the area in 2015, according to a spokesperson for the Fukui Prefecture Miyama Branch, who spoke to the Japanese news website. In response to the problem, officials began organising classes in March to teach residents how to deal with the animals.

Ishimura, Kinoshita and Ii attended the training and subsequently joined forces to protect their community’s farms. Their initiative has effectively turned them into a local team working to prevent further crop damage.

The monkeys reportedly returned in July after being absent from the area for some time, Ishimura’s husband said.

Farming remains important for the village’s elderly residents

The effort is also tied to the importance of farming in the community, where many residents are elderly. Ishimura’s husband said cultivating fields was essential to maintaining their health and vitality.

“There are many elderly people in the Miyama area, and the cultivation of fields is indispensable for health and vitality. It is necessary for the area to continue working together in the future,” he said.

The women’s patrols are aimed at helping residents continue their agricultural activities despite the recurring threat posed by the monkeys.

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Group of 20 monkeys suspected of raiding crops

A group of around 20 monkeys is believed to be responsible for the repeated theft of vegetables and other produce in the village.

Residents have also blamed the same group for causing trouble at nearby historical and religious sites, including the Asakura-san ruins of Ichijodani and Eiheiji Temple.

The three women’s “Monkey Busters” initiative has emerged as a community-led response to the problem, with the grandmothers taking on the task of keeping the animals away from local farms.