Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced on Sunday (December 15th) that Japan’s only remaining two giant pandas, the 4-year-old twin siblings “Xiaoxiao” and “Leilei” from Ueno Zoo, will be returned to China in late January next year. This will mark the first time in nearly half a century that Japan will be without any pandas.
According to the agreement between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the original return deadline for “Xiaoxiao” and “Leilei” was set for February 20, 2026. The Tokyo authorities stated that the facilities for their reception in China have been arranged, and the zoo will start a 30-day quarantine process from December 27th, with the planned departure for China at the end of January next year.
The zoo also announced that the final public display day for the twin pandas is set for January 25, 2026. Starting from the 23rd of this month, admission will be by prior reservation only, with a daily limit of approximately 4,800 visitors to meet the increasing demand. Regarding the early return compared to the original deadline, the Tokyo authorities simply mentioned that “the arrangements for reception by the Chinese side have been completed,” without further elaboration on the specific reasons.
The emotional connection between Japanese society and giant pandas dates back to 1972 when China presented “Kang Kang” and “Lan Lan” to Ueno Zoo following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This sparked unprecedented “panda fever” in Japan. Since then, pandas have become symbols of friendship between the two nations, with Ueno Zoo welcoming symbolic gifts or loans of pandas multiple times over the years, including the successful breeding of native-born cubs like “Tong Tong” and “You You” in the 1990s and recent pandas like “Xiang Xiang” and the current twin siblings.
However, in recent years, tensions between China and Japan, particularly over issues like the Taiwan Strait, have strained the continuation of “panda diplomacy,” attracting public attention. Last month, an article in the Chinese state-run newspaper “Beijing Daily” suggested that if bilateral relations continue to deteriorate, China may not lease pandas to Japan anymore. It is widely believed that under the current political atmosphere, Japan may find it difficult to welcome new pandas in the short term.
While giant pandas have been hugely popular in Japan, there have also been voices of opposition domestically. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura has previously argued that “pandas are not a necessary public investment” and advocated for resources to be allocated to areas like childcare and infrastructure instead.
Some international relations scholars have criticized “panda diplomacy” for its political leverage, asserting that relying on symbolic exchanges could weaken Japan’s diplomatic autonomy, especially in the current tense context of Sino-Japanese relations. Conservation experts and animal rights groups have also raised concerns, viewing the panda leasing system as fundamentally commercializing animals.
In 2023, the mayor of Sendai expressed interest in leasing pandas from China, but faced opposition from city council members.
The Japanese government has expressed its willingness to continue panda exchanges. Chief Cabinet Secretary Tasuku Kishihara stated that giant pandas have long been beloved by the Japanese people and have made a “tremendous contribution to improving public sentiment between Japan and China,” expressing hope that relevant cooperation can continue.
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun only responded on the 15th by suggesting to inquire with the relevant department about such matters, without directly addressing whether there are considerations to lease giant pandas to Japan again.
Xiaoxiao and Leilei were born on June 23, 2021, as the first successful twin panda births at Ueno Zoo. Initially weighing only about 130 grams at birth, they have now grown to around 130 kilograms, seen as a significant achievement of Japan’s giant panda breeding program. However, under current regulations, the ownership of giant pandas born in Japan still belongs to China.
Currently, Japan only has this pair of twin pandas at Ueno Zoo, as the four pandas from Adventure World in Wakayama returned to China in June this year, and the female giant panda at Kobe Oji Zoo, aged 28, passed away in March last year.