Japanese people flock to see pandas one last time before they return to China

Tokyo [Japan], January 26: On January 25th, Ueno Zoo in Tokyo welcomed a large number of visitors who came to see and say goodbye to the last pair of pandas in Japan, before they were repatriated to China.
According to The Japan Times on January 25, the viewing area for the four-year-old twin pandas Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao at Ueno Zoo has been packed with visitors in recent days, following news that the two pandas will be returned to China.
Xinhua News Agency reported that the panda pair will return home on January 27th, and January 25th will be the last time the public in Japan will have the opportunity to see them.
"I visited when Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei's parents were still here. It felt like a family story was coming to an end," tourist Machiko Seki told The Japan Times.
The panda cubs were born at a zoo in Tokyo in 2021, but ownership belongs to China. During the 1970s, China pursued a policy of " panda diplomacy ," lending pandas to several countries, while Beijing retained ownership of the pandas and their offspring after birth.
The repatriation of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei marks the first time Japan has been without pandas since 1972. Their parents, the panda pair Shin Shin and Ri Ri, were returned to China in 2024.
"Pandas have given me so much - energy, courage, healing. I wanted to come here to express my gratitude," shared a visitor named Seki.
Due to the overwhelming number of registrations, Ueno Zoo had to resort to a lucky draw. Many people came to the zoo but missed the chance to see Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in person.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper