Japan may be without pandas for the first time in 50 years, as the twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo are expected to return to China at the end of January 2026.
Tourists take photos of the giant panda twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. Photo: VCG .
A day after news spread that the twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo in Japan would be returning to China at the end of January, crowds flocked to the attraction. Thousands of visitors waited in line for hours just to see the two pandas one last time. Some couldn't hide their emotions at having to say goodbye to their beloved mascots of many years.
According to Asahi Television, by noon on December 16th, the waiting time to enter had reached four hours, forcing the management to close registration for the day at 1 PM.
TBS News reported that around 1,600 people arrived early, lining up before the doors opened, while the panda viewing area was separated and limited to about one minute per person. From December 23rd, reservations were required, with the last day for the public to see the pandas being January 25th of the following year.
Visitors line up to see the two giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo on December 16. Photo: VCG.
Inside the enclosure, female panda Lei Lei calmly gnawed on bamboo, seemingly unconcerned by the bustling atmosphere outside. Takahiro Takauji, a photographer who takes daily photos of pandas, said he only had a few dozen seconds at a time and managed to capture around 4,000 photos in that short period.
Many visitors shared feelings of regret. Some said they had been attached to Ueno Zoo since the days of panda Xiang Xiang; others simply wanted to express their gratitude for "the joy the pandas brought," while also expressing hope that the two pandas would remain healthy upon their return to their home zoo.
The twin pandas in Ueno are currently the only giant pandas in Japan. The Asahi Shimbun reports that although Tokyo has requested more pandas from China, the prospects for doing so remain uncertain. This raises the possibility that Japan could face a "panda-free" situation for the first time in about 50 years.
Visitors observe giant panda Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo (Tokyo) on December 16, a day after Japan announced it would return the pandas to China in January 2026. Photo: VCG.
The recent deterioration in Japan-China relations has further fueled concerns among panda enthusiasts.
When asked about the possibility of continuing cooperation with Japan on panda conservation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the matter had been referred to the relevant authorities.