Otchan is a pig farmer in Japan, and he has a very special relationship with his pink friends.
In fact, the full extent of this unique and beautiful bond he shares with his animals has been captured on camera over the course of 10 years, thanks to photographer Toshiteru Yamaji.
Many of these photos are simply fascinating. The caring and loving farmer serenades his pigs with a guitar, takes them to the beach, cuddles with them, or simply spends time with them – a far cry from the often abusive and inhumane conditions experienced by pigs in U.S. mass-production farms.
Although it may sometimes look like it, treating farm animals with respect is not unheard of. It has been shown that playing soothing music to milking cows can prompt them to provide farmers with greater yields.
Yamaji wound up publishing a book called “Pigs And Papa” (available on Amazon) with his photos of Otchan and his pigs, for which he won the 13th Japan Self-Publishing Award.
Yamaji’s photo book with these images, “Pigs And Papa,” is available on Amazon.