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Japan says goodbye to its final giant pandas
Thousands of visitors waited for hours at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on Sunday to catch a final glimpse of twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei before their scheduled return to China on Tuesday. The departure will mark the first time Japan has been without giant pandas since 1972, when diplomatic relations with Beijing were restored.
Emotional scenes at Tokyo zoo
Over 108,000 people entered a lottery for just 4,400 slots to see the pandas one last time, with some queuing for up to three and a half hours. Visitors shared memories of watching the cubs grow since their birth in 2021.
"I've been bringing my son here since he was a baby, so I hope this becomes a good memory for him. I'm glad we could come today to remember them."
Ai Shirakawa, zoo visitor
Others described the experience as bittersweet, with some breaking into tears as they said their goodbyes. The twins were born to pandas Shin Shin and Ri Ri, both on loan to Japan for breeding research.
Pandas as diplomatic tools
China has long used giant pandas as symbols of goodwill, loaning them to foreign zoos since 1949. However, Beijing retains ownership of all pandas, including those born abroad, and host countries pay an annual fee of approximately $1 million per pair.
Panda loans often coincide with major trade deals. In 2011, for example, two pandas were sent to Edinburgh Zoo during negotiations over salmon, Land Rover vehicles, and energy technology contracts.
Diplomatic tensions cloud future loans
Relations between Japan and China have soured in recent months after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated Tokyo would intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, responded with anger and imposed restrictions on rare earth exports to Japan.
While panda loan agreements typically last 10 years-with extensions common-the future of any new pandas arriving in Japan remains uncertain amid the escalating dispute.
What's next
Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will depart for China on Tuesday, leaving Japan without any giant pandas for the first time in over five decades. Officials have not confirmed whether negotiations for a new loan are underway.
