Japan’s last giant pandas are leaving Ueno Zoo

Ueno Zoo’s most precious animals, the beloved twin giant pandas Xiaoxiao and Lei Lei, will return to China in January 2026, marking the end of an era for panda enthusiasts across Japan. Their departure will leave Japan without pandas for the first time since 1972, when the animals first arrived as a symbol of diplomatic ties between Japan and China.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed the twins Final public viewing is scheduled for January 25. Male “Xiao Xiao” and female “Leilei” were born at Ueno Zoo in 2021, becoming the last remaining giant pandas in Japan since four other giant pandas from Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture were returned to China earlier this year.

Departure of Japan’s last giant pandas

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born to Ri Ri and Shin Shin. They arrived in Japan in 2011 and returned to China in September 2024. The twins’ sister, Xiangxiang, was sent back to China in February 2023. Because the twins were born under a breeding and research loan agreement, their ownership belongs to China, and the lease was originally scheduled to expire in February 2026.

After ongoing discussions between Tokyo officials and Chinese authorities, it was decided to send the twins back about a month early. The move will end nearly 50 years of uninterrupted panda life in Japan, during which more than 30 giant pandas were flown from China or born on Japanese soil.

The twins have been a highlight at Ueno Zoo since their birth, attracting crowds of visitors eager to watch them eat bamboo, nap side by side, and grow from pups into playful pups.

What this means for zoos and Japan

The twins’ return highlights the uncertain future of panda diplomacy between Japan and China. While the panda loans are officially defined as joint conservation and research projects, they are also closely tied to broader bilateral relationships. Tokyo has expressed interest in leasing more pandas, but officials admit the prospects are slim due to the ongoing diplomatic differences between the two countries.

Ueno Zoo has experienced similar moments of absence before. After the death of male giant panda Lingling in 2008, there were no more pandas at the zoo until Ri Ri and Shin Shin arrived in 2011, just weeks before the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. However, the gap is likely to be longer this time around, with no clear timeline for the newcomers.

Beyond the zoo, the panda’s departure also has symbolic significance. Since their first arrival in 1972, giant pandas have been a gentle symbol of friendship and exchange between Japan and China, often transcending political differences. Their absence is reflected not only in ticket numbers and merchandise sales, but also in political discourse, where pandas have long occupied a uniquely warm place.

As Xiaoxiao and Lei Lei prepare to return home, crowds are expected to flock to Ueno Zoo for one last look and a bittersweet farewell.

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