Japan is set to lose its last two giant pandas for the first time since 1972, as the twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei prepare to return to China in late January 2026. The departure ends more than 50 years of continuous panda exhibitions in the country and marks the closure of a long-running cultural connection between Japan and the species.
The pandas, housed at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, were born to parents Shin Shin and Ri Ri in June 2021. Like all giant pandas outside China, they are owned by the Chinese state and were on loan under a long-term agreement. Their return follows the original loan terms, although Japanese authorities announced the date slightly earlier than scheduled, with the final public viewing set for 25 January 2026.
