A day after it was announced that Japan’s last two giant pandas would be returning to China, thousands of fans visited Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo on Tuesday (Dec 16) for a final look, many saying tearful goodbyes to the twins. Four-year-old Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei are scheduled to move to China at the end of January, ahead of a Feb 20 deadline — news that broke on Monday and disappointed a nation long enamored with pandas. While their relocation had been planned for some time, the departure carries symbolic weight amid recently strained China-Japan relations. Tensions rose last month after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a military response if China attacked Taiwan.

On Tuesday, the pandas again made headlines as crowds wearing panda-themed hats, bags, and merchandise lined up early to see them. “I want these pandas to stay in Japan forever,” said 60-year-old hospitality worker Hiroyo Kashio. “I know they belong to China, but since they were born in Japan, I really want them to remain at Ueno Zoo.”

Born in June 2021, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei have been major attractions since their parents left last year. Their departure will leave Japan without pandas for the first time since 1972, when the country normalized diplomatic relations with China. “The birth of these twins gave us so much, both in experience and emotional impact,” said Hitoshi Suzuki, head of animal care and exhibition at Ueno Zoo. “I’m deeply grateful for that.” China, which practices “panda diplomacy,” often loans pandas to reward allies but sometimes recalls them to express displeasure. Pandas, native to China, usually return once their loan agreements end, including cubs born overseas.

Expecting large crowds until Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei’s last viewing day on Jan 25, Ueno Zoo has limited visits at the panda pavilion to roughly a minute per person since Tuesday and will require online reservations starting next week. For the final 12 days, a lottery system will select viewers. “Maybe our prime minister’s comments influenced this,” said Kashio. “But pandas shouldn’t be political. They are symbols of friendship between Japan and China, so I really hope they can stay here.”