Japan says goodbye to last pandas amid strained ties with China

On January 27, 2026, Japan bid farewell to its last two pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, as they returned to China. Large crowds gathered in Tokyo to see the pandas depart. The pandas' return marks the first time in over fifty years that Japan has been without pandas. The departure of the pandas comes amid a period of strained relations between Japan and China. The reason for their return was not explicitly stated in the article.

Fans in Japan gathered at the Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo on Sunday to say goodbye to twin giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, before their departure to China on Tuesday. The pandas' return marks the first time since 1972 that Japan will have no pandas, ending a long-standing symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship that began with a gift from China after the normalization of relations. The reason for the pandas' return is that they are no longer on loan. Prospects for future panda loans are uncertain due to strained relations between the two countries, stemming from comments made by a Japanese Prime Minister regarding a potential conflict between China and Taiwan. The event required prior reservations, with high demand for the limited slots available.

Twin pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, are returning to China from the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, after being on loan as part of China's panda diplomacy program. The pandas' departure, though planned, comes amid rising tensions between Japan and China, stemming from comments made by Japan's prime minister regarding potential military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. The zoo saw a surge in visitors wanting to bid farewell to the pandas before their departure on Tuesday, with many participating in a lottery for a chance to see them. China has also warned against travel to Japan and restricted Japanese seafood imports, suggesting that Japan may remain panda-free for the foreseeable future. Panda diplomacy has been used by China for centuries, with historical records indicating the practice dating back to the Tang Dynasty.

The last two giant pandas in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, are scheduled to leave for China on January 27, one month ahead of schedule. This marks the first time in about half a century that Japan will be without any pandas. The twins were born at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo and were originally set to return in February. However, due to worsening bilateral tensions between Japan and China, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced an early departure. The pandas are technically "loans" from China and destined for return, but no new pandas have been agreed upon. The announcement drew a large crowd to the zoo, with some visitors waiting up to six hours to view the pair before their departure.

Visitors to Tokyo's Ueno Zoo are concerned that the departure of twin pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, back to China in late January could signal a diplomatic rift between the two countries. The pandas, born at the zoo in 2021, are being returned according to previous agreements, but there is uncertainty about replacements. This concern stems from recent tensions, including Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments about potential military intervention if China attacks Taiwan, which has angered Beijing. With China already enacting economic measures against Japan, the potential loss of pandas, symbols of friendship since 1972, is fueling fears that China may be using the panda loan program as a form of political leverage.