Panda enthusiasts queued for hours at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens on Tuesday to catch a final glimpse of twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, the last two in Japan, ahead of their return to China next month.
At Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens, crowds of panda fans gathered on Tuesday following an announcement from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government the previous day. The twin giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei—the only ones left in Japan—will return to China by the end of January, advanced from an original February departure, with no immediate replacement planned.
Minoru Sawada, 67, from Kawasaki, visited Ueno Park with his wife that morning. 'We hadn't been here in decades since our children were little, but we wanted to come after hearing they are going to be gone from Japan,' Sawada said. The couple waited over two hours just to see Xiao Xiao.
This farewell underscores the pandas' role in China-Japan relations, as they have been loaned from China and enjoyed immense popularity in Japan for years. The decision to return them has drawn attention amid broader bilateral ties. Zoo officials noted the visitors' enthusiasm highlights the animals' enduring appeal, with many families making the trip to create lasting memories.
