Japan experienced sad days this weekend at the Ueno Zoological Garden: the last giant pandas of the Asian nation departed for China.
These were the twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, who left the archipelago this Monday. Thus, Japan is left without giant pandas after more than half a century.
The twin pandas, born in 2021 at the zoo, were transferred to China as part of a conservation agreement between the two countries.
This Monday, the specimens traveled in a special truck to Narita International Airport, where they boarded a flight to their country of origin.
The operation was carried out under strict veterinary and logistical protocols. It should be noted that these procedures are common in international transfers of iconic species.
The end of panda diplomacy in the archipelago
The return of the giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei was framed within the current cooperation agreements between China and Japan.
These agreements combine conservation, scientific research and diplomacy for the loan of giant pandas Japan and other countries.
The Chinese agency Xinhua reported that the repatriation was scheduled for February 2026.
However, the transfer was brought forward after consultations between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Chinese authorities.
The twins are the offspring of Shin Shin and Ri Ri, a pair of giant pandas that returned to China from Japan in September 2024.
Their older sister, Xiang Xiang, also departed from Japan to China in February 2023 after years of enormous media attention and massive lines of visitors.
Japan is left without giant pandas: thousands of fans bid them farewell
The farewell of the giant pandas Japan generated a strong emotional reaction.
Thousands of people followed the last weeks of the twins with nostalgia and gratitude, aware of the end of an era.
On the last day of public visits, access was limited to 4,400 people. These were selected by lottery from more than 108,000 applicants, almost 25 times the available capacity.
Visitors, many with panda toys, loudly said the bears’ names. They also used their cell phones to take photos while nibbling bamboo and strolling through their enclosure.
The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, commented on the matter.
“I know that giant pandas are loved by many people in Japan, and we welcome Japanese friends to come visit them in China,” he stated.
Japan and the giant pandas: more than half a century of shared history
The presence of giant pandas Japan dates back to 1972. That year, Lan Lan and Kang Kang arrived in Tokyo to commemorate the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Since then, these animals have established themselves as true cultural ambassadors. They have promoted scientific exchanges and strengthened the bond between Tokyo and Beijing.
Main milestones of pandas in Japan:
- 1972: Arrival of the first pandas (Lan Lan and Kang Kang)
- 2021: Birth of the twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei
- June 2024: Return of four pandas from Wakayama
- September 2024: Return of Shin Shin and Ri Ri to China
- January 2026: Departure of the last pandas from the archipelago
In June of last year, another four giant pandas living in a zoo in the Wakayama prefecture also returned to China.
This movement anticipated the outcome that materialized this week.
An uncertain future for new agreements
With the departure of the twins, Japan was momentarily left out of the international panda loan program.
China has used this strategy for decades to promote conservation and strengthen diplomatic ties.
The chances of obtaining a replacement are slim. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing are at their lowest point in years, according to Japanese media.
Beijing lends the pandas to other countries but retains their ownership. This includes any cubs they produce during their stay abroad.
The twins will begin a new stage in China. They will be integrated into breeding and research programs aimed at preserving the giant panda, a species that continues to be the subject of international monitoring and protection.
