Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei arrive in China, leaving Japan without pandas for first time in 50 years

Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo bade farewell this week to its final two giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, marking the end of more than five decades of panda presence in Japan.

The twin pandas, born at Ueno in 2021, arrived in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, early Wednesday morning and were subsequently transferred to the Ya’an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda for quarantine.

Their departure ends Japan’s long history of hosting Chinese pandas, which began in 1972 following the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The pandas’ parents, Shin Shin and Ri Ri, had already returned to China in 2024, and Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei quickly became top attractions at the Tokyo zoo.

Political tensions

The move comes at a politically tense moment in Sino-Japanese relations. Last November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Japan would respond militarily in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan, prompting a sharp reaction from Beijing. 

Despite the political backdrop, China emphasized the diplomatic role the pandas have played, noting that Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei “made a positive contribution to promoting friendship between the peoples of the two countries.”

Pandas born overseas are generally returned to China between the ages of two and four to join national breeding programs, a practice that supports both conservation and what has long been known as “panda diplomacy.” 

Over the decades, China has used pandas to strengthen ties with other nations or signal goodwill. For example, the US received pandas after diplomatic thawing following the 2023 spy balloon incident, while Australia and South Korea are the latest countries in talks for panda loans to support warming relations.

Species preservation

At Ya’an, the pandas were carefully unloaded from a Sichuan Airlines flight and transferred to trucks under close supervision, highlighting the meticulous care taken during transport. Once integrated into the breeding program, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will contribute to China’s efforts to preserve the species and advance research on giant pandas.

About The Author

Nathaniel Alexander Abaño

See author's posts