It’s Impossible To Have a Bad Time When Your Bartender Is Ginji The Hamster

What do a tombstone salesman in Chiba Prefecture’s Yachiyo City in Japan and a bar have in common? You may say plenty, seeing as how that seems like kind of a downer of a job, but the answer that we’re looking for is a hamster.

Before you assume we’ve lost our marbles, meet Ginji the hamster bartender! A regular feature on his guardian (the aforementioned tombstone salesman) Kosuke Sato’s Twitter account, Ginji is the manager of an izakaya, or bar, and can be seen serving up sake and plating up rice. His establishment is quite popular, with over 51 thousand followers checking in to see the sweet sommelier in action.

What does it say about us that we would totally patronize this place like the regulars on Cheers? It says we’re awesome, that’s what. Here are a few highlights of Ginji’s day-to-day life as our favorite, tiny barkeep.

“Welcome to The Hanging Water Bottle, can I take your order?”

“Nothing says midday snack like a cocktail and a chocolate bar.”

“Drink up human, this is some premium sake right here.”

“Sometimes I have to scoot off to the back room for a break from the hubbub…with my cocktail of course. The cocktail comes with me.”

“This represents three of the four important food groups of my day: rice, miso soup and wine. The fourth is dessert, I’ll get to that later, don’t you worry.”

“Look, I busted out all of my excellent copper cookware for this meal so you’d better like it.”

“Ah, Home-Sweet-Hotplate.”

“It’s important to stay current so I can chat up my patrons. Gotta know the latest on The Real Housewives or I’m sunk!”

“What do you mean having my pet on the bar is unsanitary?”

“Shhh. If I hide down here behind the food, that freaky guy who wants his sake over ice will wander off.”

“Sorry guys, you can NOT beat my karaoke version of Love Is a Battlefield. Suck it, Benatar.”

“Sometimes I like to get away from it all in my single cab. The bar life can be a stressful gig.”

“Man, I went Apple but I’m wondering if I should’ve gone with the hams-droid platform.”

“Phfff, I’m not drunk, you’re drunk … no YOU’RE a hamster.”

All image source: Kawanabesatou/Twitter