"Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens is set to bid farewell to Japan's last two Giant pandas, signalling the conclusion of a cherished chapter in the nation's cultural and diplomatic history. The twin pandas, Xiao Xiao (male) and Lei Lei (female), are scheduled to return to China by the end of January next year. Their public farewell will take place on January 25, marking over five decades of pandas living in Japan. The departure comes as a natural conclusion of the bilateral loan agreement between Japan and China. Despite rising tensions between Beijing and Japan's new PM, Sanae Takaichi, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government indicated practical reasons for the slightly accelerated timeline, noting that a specialised facility in Chengdu, China, will be ready to receive the siblings. This departure not only closes a significant era of 'panda diplomacy' between the two nations but also brings sadness to the Japanese public, who have viewed these pandas as a constant source of joy and a major zoo attraction. “I will miss them. Going back to China was something that had originally been planned, so I understand that. But it’s a little bit earlier than I expected, about a month, so I’m a little surprised,” a visitor said. “I don't really want to see it as a diplomatic failure. I guess that’s partly because [Prime Minister] Takaichi said something... It’ll be sad to see the pandas go, so I hope they come back," added a second. At a press conference announcing the details of the pandas' return to China, Hitoshi Suzuki, curator of Ueno Zoological Gardens, stated, “I can only express my sincere gratitude to Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. They are the first panda twins born at Ueno Zoo. Raising them to be healthy was extremely difficult, but they have given us many joys, surprises, and so much more.” Since 1972, Japan has welcomed its first pandas as a symbol of normalised diplomatic ties. With the recent return of four other pandas from Adventure World in Wakayama, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei are the final pair in the country. While the zoo has formally requested a future loan, the prospects for new pandas remain uncertain amid diplomatic tensions."