Fans in Tokyo bid farewell to twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei during their final viewing at Ueno Zoo on Sunday. The nearby Ueno Information Center, a hub for panda enthusiasts, introduced new merchandise and plans events in hopes of welcoming new pandas to Japan soon.
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, giant panda fans gathered at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo for the final viewing of twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, marking an emotional farewell as the pandas prepare to return to China on Tuesday. Japan will be without pandas for the time being, but the nearby Ueno Information Center remains optimistic, unveiling new merchandise and outlining plans for events to anticipate future arrivals.
The Ueno Information Center, revered as 'hallowed ground' by panda enthusiasts for fueling the craze with original goods, is on the second floor of the Matsuzakaya department store in Ueno, a 10-minute walk from the zoo. The day before the last viewing, on Saturday, crowds flocked there to buy items like pin badges and plush toys featuring the twins, or to photograph stuffed animals in handmade outfits.
Opened in November 2017 as an information hub for the Ueno area, the center saw a surge in inquiries about panda merchandise when six-month-old Xiang Xiang—born at the zoo—debuted publicly the following month. Starting the next year, it shifted focus to original products. Takuya Shimasaki, 58, president of the operating company, said, 'We hoped it would encourage fans visiting the zoo to explore the surrounding area.' It now offers over 200 items, including plush toys and T-shirts, drawing about 5,000 visitors monthly who line up for new releases.
The top seller is the palm-sized 'Odekake Xiang Xiang Mascot,' meticulously designed to mimic the real Xiang Xiang's face and rounded back, beloved for its realism. Fans delight in dressing it up in various outfits. In January 2025, with the twins' return to China a year away, the center launched the 'Ueno Come Come Panda Project' to beckon new pandas. It features the symbolic character 'Lai Lai,' designed by illustrator sunaco sunayama, blending traits from all 15 pandas that have lived at Ueno. Key chains and handkerchiefs with Lai Lai sold out quickly.
The project will continue post-return, building momentum through artist collaborations and fan events. Shimasaki added, 'It’s sad to see the two pandas leave, but we want to keep waiting for new pandas while Lai Lai fills the gap in giant panda fans’ hearts.'
