Japan is about to be without pandas after half a century.

Japan will be without pandas for the first time since 1972, after Tokyo returns the last pair of panda twins to China at the end of January 2026.

Twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo, Japan - Photo: YONHAP

According to the Asahi newspaper on December 15, the Tokyo government negotiated with China ahead of the February 20, 2026 deadline for the return of the giant panda twins, a male named "Xiao Xiao" and a female named "Lei Lei," but the two sides ultimately agreed on an earlier return. Tokyo said it would soon announce a specific schedule.

“Xiao Xiao” and “Lei Lei” were born in June 2021 at Ueno Zoo and have been raised there. Their parents, “Li Li” and “Shin Shin,” were returned to China last September.

Notably, these twin pandas became the last remaining pandas in Japan, after Adventure World amusement park in Wakayama Prefecture returned four pandas that were being kept under a "Giant Panda Conservation Cooperation Project" with China in June.

Asahi reported that Japan has repeatedly requested China to lend them new pandas, but there is currently no prospect of a deal. If no new agreement is reached, returning these two pandas would leave Japan without pandas for the first time in over half a century.

The prospects for negotiations have become even more difficult amid rising Japan-China tensions, particularly after Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's statement on the 7th of last month hinting at the possibility of intervention in the event of an emergency in Taiwan.

Giant pandas were first brought to Japan in 1972, when the two countries normalized diplomatic relations. Since then, more than 30 individuals have been kept in Japan on loan and for joint research, with the aim of conservation efforts.

China has long practiced "panda diplomacy" by gifting or lending giant pandas – a species found only in China – to friendly nations. According to regulations, pandas born abroad are returned to China when they reach approximately four years of age.

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Trieu Phuong

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhat-ban-sap-khong-co-gau-truc-sau-nua-the-ky-20251215144319034.htm