The last two giant pandas in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, on Tuesday left Tokyo's Ueno zoo for China, marking the first time in around half a century that there will be no pandas in Japan.

They were scheduled to board a flight back to China at Narita Airport.

The twin pandas were born in 2021 to their mother, Shin Shin, and her mate, Ri Ri, who were returned to China in September 2024. Their elder sister, celebrity giant panda Xiang Xiang, returned home in February 2023.

Under a prior agreement between China and Japan, the two pandas were scheduled to be returned by February 2026.