Giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei departed Tokyo's Ueno Zoo for China on Tuesday, leaving Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972.

Last Sunday marked the final day the panda twins were made available for public viewing. Large crowds of Japanese fans gathered at the zoo to bid farewell. About 4,400 visitors secured lottery tickets to see the pair, while many others still came to the zoo despite being unable to say goodbye in person.

The twins are the offspring of Shin Shin and her mate Ri Ri, who were both returned to China in September 2024. Their elder sister, the much-loved giant panda Xiang Xiang, returned to China in February 2023.

Over more than fifty years, Ueno Zoo hosted a total of 15 giant pandas, making them one of its most iconic attractions. The absence of the pandas will not only create an emotional void but also significant economic losses.