Japan will be without a panda for the first time in 50 years after twins leave Tokyo

Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens will soon see the departure of its popular twin pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, who are scheduled to return to China in late January. This will leave Japan without any pandas for the first time in approximately 50 years, according to officials.

The twin pandas were born in 2021 at the zoo but remain under Chinese ownership as part of a loan agreement. They must be returned by February. Their parents, Shin Shin and Ri Ri, were previously sent back to China last year after a period of breeding research that began in 2011. The public's last chance to see Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, both four years old, will be January 25, the Tokyo government announced.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara acknowledged the pandas' popularity in Japan and expressed hope that "panda diplomacy" between the two nations would continue. Kihara stated that panda exchanges have historically fostered goodwill between Japan and China, and he voiced the hope that this positive relationship would persist. He also mentioned that numerous local governments and zoos have expressed interest in obtaining new panda loans.

China initially gifted pandas to Japan in 1972 to commemorate the normalization of diplomatic relations. Since then, Japan has consistently hosted pandas. Giant pandas, native to southwestern China, are considered an unofficial national symbol. China often lends these animals to other countries as a gesture of friendship, while retaining ownership of the pandas and any offspring.

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the prospect of quickly replacing the pandas appears uncertain due to strained relations between Japan and China. Tensions have risen since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in early November that Japan's military might intervene if China were to take action against Taiwan. Subsequently, China has restricted tourism to Japan, and cultural exchanges and events between local governments have been called off. Further escalating the situation, Chinese military drills near southern Japan, which involved an aircraft carrier, prompted Japan to deploy fighter jets. Japan also protested alleged radar-locking incidents targeting its aircraft, viewing it as a potential precursor to missile launches.