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The clothed dancing monkeys of Japan: Human-like primates captured as they act out skits in ancient art form known asSamurawashi
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Los Angeles photographer Hiroshi Watanabe has captured a set of incredible portraits of Sarumawashi - a 1000-year-old Japanese tradition.
Sarumawashi translates literally as 'dancing monkeys', where highly trained and clothed macaque monkeys perform tricks, dances, sketches and acrobatics.
Based on an ancient belief that the primates were able to protect Samurai warriors' horses from disease, sarumawashi was performed for hundreds of years.
It fell out of fashion as society modernized and nearly became extinct in the 1970s. But the art form was revived by a group of campaigners in the southern Japanese city of Hikari.
Photographer Watanabe remembered the performing monkeys from his childhood in Japan.
He traveled to the country and took these stunning shots of the monkeys against a simple backdrop, respectfully recording a very old Japanese custom.
Samurai Aikichi: A fearsome warrior brandishes a sword
Deep in thought: One of the dancing monkeys, known as Big, stares into the middle distance
Hiding place: Big covers his face in a bucket
Play time: The monkey known as Genki plays with the toy called Monchhichi
Calculation: Kanpei counts her fingers
Rest: The monkey called Choromatsu
Cheeky: Genki pulls a face at the camera
Headwear: Aikichi looks fierce
Hat: Aikichi with a bamboo sieve
At piece: Kanpei enjoys some quiet time
Music: Yuji plays the koto - a traditional Japanese instrument
Friends: Kojiro and Kurimatsu
Feet up: Kojiro pulls a pose
Unsure: Kosuke doesn't look very happy