End of an era: pandas leave Japan as relations with China cool - Environmental Diplomacy JAN 30, 2026.
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
End of an era: pandas leave Japan as relations with China cool - Environmental Diplomacy
Tokyo — This week, two of Japan's most beloved giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, left Tokyo for China at the end of January, ending more than 50 years of continuous presence of these animals in the country and leaving Japan, for the first time since 1972, without any pandas on its territory. The departure moved hundreds of fans who gathered at the Ueno Zoo for a farewell filled with nostalgia and sadness.
The pandas — born in 2021 at the Ueno Zoo itself — were transported by truck to the airport before embarking for Sichuan province in southwestern China, where they now remain under quarantine at a specialized conservation base.
Much More Than Animals: Symbols of Diplomatic Ties
The loan of pandas is part of China's well-known "panda diplomacy" strategy, in which these animals are sent as a symbol of friendship and cooperation with other countries. Since diplomatic relations between Japan and China were normalized in 1972, several generations of pandas have been received in Japan under this scientific-conservation cooperation program.
Although the end of the pandas' stay follows the schedule of the bilateral agreement — which already foresaw their return before February 2026 — the timing of their departure occurs amidst a cooling of relations between Tokyo and Beijing, especially after comments by the Japanese Prime Minister regarding security around Taiwan that irritated Chinese authorities. This fueled speculation that the political context may have influenced the decision not to extend the loan or send new animals for now.
An Emotional Farewell from the Japanese Public
In the days leading up to their departure, Ueno Zoo implemented a reservation and lottery system to manage the long lines of visitors who wanted to see the pandas one last time. Many fans wore themed accessories, took photos, and left heartfelt messages. “They always brought me joy on difficult days,” one visitor told the local newspaper.
The pandas' departure also has a cultural and economic impact: in addition to the loss of a symbol of popular tenderness and friendship, it is estimated that the animals' absence could affect the flow of visitors and tourist activities in the areas surrounding the zoo.
And now? What changes with the absence of the pandas?
With the return of the pandas to the conservation center in China, Japan enters a new chapter without these icons of popular culture for the time being. Japanese authorities have signaled interest in negotiating possible new loans in the future, but with ongoing diplomatic tensions, it is unclear when or if this will happen.
On the Chinese side, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that the return of the pandas follows the terms of the existing agreement and reiterated that Japanese people are welcome to visit the pandas at the Chinese facilities, reinforcing that the animals continue to be a means of bringing people closer together.
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This text was compiled using public data, scientific reports, and information from meteorological institutions.
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