Japan left without pandas as Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao depart Tokyo

Hundreds of people gathered at Ueno zoological gardens in Tokyo to say farewell as twin giant pandas Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao were transported by truck back to China, leaving Japan without any pandas for the first time in 50 years. The four‑year‑old twins, born at Ueno in 2021, were taken from the zoo where they were raised.

Well‑wishers wearing panda‑themed clothes waited for hours and about 4,400 people who won an online lottery were invited to see the pandas on their final day. "I’ve been coming to watch them since they were born," said Nene Hashino, a fan who told the Guardian she felt like her children were going away.

The twins’ mother, Shin Shin, was returned to China in 2024 because of declining health. Their abrupt return was announced last month amid a diplomatic spat that began when the Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, hinted Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan, a comment that provoked Beijing's ire.

The animals had been on loan under China’s "panda diplomacy" programme, which the Guardian says has symbolised friendship since ties were normalised in 1972. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, "According to the relevant agreement between China and Japan, the giant pandas who were living in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, today began their return trip to China," and added, "As always, we welcome the Japanese public to come see giant pandas in China." What happens next is unclear.