Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo said goodbye to its final giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, this week as the beloved twins boarded a flight back to the Chinese mainland. Their departure marks the first time since 1972 that Japan will have no pandas—ending a 54-year chapter of “panda diplomacy” between the two nations. 😢
Over 4,400 fans secured lottery tickets for a final glimpse of the pair last Sunday, with emotional crowds chanting farewells. Many others showed up just to linger near the now-empty panda house. 🎋 “It feels like losing family members,” said one longtime visitor.
The twins, born in 2021, followed their parents Shin Shin and Ri Ri, who returned to China in 2024. Their sister Xiang Xiang—a social media star—left in 2023. 🎥💔
Pandas have been Ueno Zoo’s top attraction since 1972, drawing over 15 million visitors. Local businesses fear economic losses without the “black-and-white magic” that boosted tourism. Analysts speculate China may send new pandas as bilateral ties evolve, but for now, Japan’s panda chapter is closed. 🌏🤝
