RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - His name is Punch, a 7-month-old long-tailed macaque living at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. In recent weeks, he has become a global sensation. However, Punch's fame isn't just due to his playful antics alone, but because of his touching story: rejected by his mother, he found comfort in the embrace of an orangutan stuffed toy, and surprisingly, this unique friendship has been interpreted as a fitting symbol of the diplomatic relationship between Indonesia and Japan.

Punch, or affectionately called Punch-kun, was born in July 2025. Shortly after birth, he was rejected by his biological mother and subsequently ostracized by the rest of the monkey troop. In primate societies, maternal bonds are crucial. Without it, the survival and social development of a baby monkey are threatened.

Seeing Punch's dire and high-risk condition, the zookeepers intervened. They bottle-fed him and cared for him with great affection. However, the biggest challenge was replacing the warm figure of a mother. To do this, they gave him an orange orangutan stuffed toy, which was none other than IKEA's DJUNGELSKOG.

That stuffed toy was then affectionately named "Ora-mama". The choice of an orangutan toy was not without reason. Kosuke Shikano, one of the zookeepers, explained that the long-haired doll was deliberately chosen because its shape resembled a monkey and was easy for little Punch to grasp.

"The doll's fur makes it easy to hold, and its monkey-like appearance likely provides a sense of security," Kosuke explained. "The doll is his surrogate mother," he added.

Since then, Punch has never been separated from Ora-mama. Videos that later went viral on social media showed Punch playing, sleeping, and even dragging his beloved toy wherever he went. In one moment that sparked the #KeepGoingPunch hashtag in cyberspace, Punch was seen being frightened by adult monkeys and desperately trying to pull the oversized Ora-mama into a hiding spot, a scene that captivated millions of viewers.

It is here that the narrative of this friendship transforms into a larger symbol. A native Japanese monkey embracing an orangutan toy, an animal endemic to Indonesia, becomes a poetic metaphor for the closeness of the two nations.

Indonesia and Japan have long enjoyed a close diplomatic relationship, intertwined in various fields from investment and culture to defense. The friendship between Punch (the Japanese monkey) and Ora-mama (the Indonesian orangutan toy) metaphorically represents a relationship of mutual protection and strengthening.

Ora-mama, the "foster mother" from the Land of the Rising Sun, represents how Japan often serves as a place for Punch, the "child" in need of support. The toy, a global product present in Japan, becomes a bridge connecting Punch to a sense of security. In a broader context, this can be seen as how Japan is a crucial partner for Indonesia, and how Indonesian values (represented by the orangutan) are accepted and even become a source of strength in Japan.

This connection felt even more tangible when the President of IKEA Japan, Petra Fare, touched by Punch's story, visited the zoo on 17 February and donated several new orangutan toys. This donation acts much like soft diplomacy, strengthening the emotional bond between the global community, Japan, and the Indonesian symbol within it. The Mayor of Ichikawa praised the gesture, signifying that "little Punch" had become an unlikely ambassador of goodwill.

Punch's story doesn't end with his solitude alongside his toy. In recent heartening developments, the zoo announced that Punch is gradually starting to be accepted back by the monkey troop.

Zookeepers observed a significant moment when an adult monkey began to groom Punch – a crucial social ritual in primate society that signifies trust and acceptance. Punch has also been seen playing with other young monkeys.

"Punch is actively engaging with other monkeys, and I can sense him maturing," said zookeeper Shumpei Miyakoshi. "Even when he gets scolded by other monkeys, he recovers quickly. He's mentally strong," he added.

Although he is now beginning to find his place socially, Punch still relies on Ora-mama as a source of comfort, especially when he feels overwhelmed by interactions with his new friends. The toy remains a safe "home," much like the enduring friendship between Indonesia and Japan, which always serves as a solid foundation amidst the dynamics of international relations.

The story of Punch and Ora-mama teaches us about resilience, finding oneself, and the meaning of friendship. Amidst the hustle and bustle of global politics, a simple story from a corner of a zoo in Japan has managed to encapsulate the essence of the Indonesia-Japan bilateral relationship: a bond built on a foundation of security, support, and affection that transcends species and geographical borders.