The last two giant pandas in Japan, twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, are departing for China on January 27, 2026, ending a five-decade presence of the beloved animals in the country. This move comes as diplomatic tensions between Japan and China have reached a low point, with no immediate prospects for new panda loans.
Japanese panda fans flocked to Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo on Sunday for the final public viewing of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei before their scheduled departure. The twins, born in 2021, have been a major attraction, with visitors adhering to a one-minute viewing limit to catch a glimpse of the bears nibbling bamboo and playing. Devoted fans expressed sadness and nostalgia, with many carrying panda-themed toys and capturing photos. Longtime enthusiast Michiko Seki, wearing a panda-patterned shirt, highlighted the comfort pandas provide and hoped for a diplomatic resolution to bring them back.
The pandas are part of China’s “panda diplomacy,” where Beijing lends the animals to other countries as a gesture of goodwill. The first pandas arrived in Japan in 1972 to mark normalized diplomatic ties, and since then, they have become cultural icons in Japan. Current Japan-China relations are tense due to disputes over Taiwan and other issues, complicating the renewal of panda loans. Japanese officials have acknowledged delays in diplomatic approvals, reflecting the broader friction.
The absence of pandas is expected to cause significant economic losses for Ueno Zoo and surrounding businesses, with estimates suggesting annual losses of around 20 billion yen ($128 million). Local shops fear the impact on sales of panda merchandise. This departure leaves Japan without pandas for the first time since 1972, underscoring how political dynamics can affect cultural exchanges. Past instances, like the shelved plan after the 2011 disaster, show how panda diplomacy has been politicized.
With no new agreements in sight, Japanese fans may need to visit China to see pandas. Chinese officials have invited Japanese friends to see pandas in China, but the future of panda presence in Japan remains uncertain. The return of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei symbolizes the fragile state of Japan-China relations, with the beloved bears becoming casualties of geopolitical strains.
