Tokyo Zoo Fans Say Goodbye to Beloved Panda Twins

Thousands of panda fans lined up at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo this weekend for one last glimpse of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, twin pandas who captured hearts across Japan for four years.

The four-year-old siblings will return to China at the end of February, and demand to see them one final time was so high that the zoo had to hold a lottery for viewing tickets. Winners got exactly one minute to say goodbye.

For many visitors, the pandas represented far more than cute animals. Machiko Seki, 54, has been visiting the zoo since the twins' parents arrived years ago. "It feels like one family's story is coming to an end," she said.

Seki described how the pandas gave her "energy, courage, healing" over the years. She made the trip specifically to express her gratitude to the animals who helped her through difficult times.

The devotion ran so deep that even lottery losers showed up. Akiko Kawakami, 49, didn't win a viewing ticket but came to the zoo anyway. "I wanted to breathe the same air as the pandas," she explained.

Sunny's Take

In a world that often feels divided, the panda twins reminded Tokyo residents of something simple and universal: the healing power of connection. For four years, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei gave people a reason to smile, to take a break from daily stress, and to feel wonder at something beautiful.

Their departure marks the first time Japan will be without pandas since 1972, making this goodbye particularly poignant. But the thousands who came to say farewell prove that the joy these animals spread will outlast their time at the zoo.

The one-minute viewing windows might seem brief, but for fans like Seki and Kawakami, even seconds with creatures that brought them so much happiness were worth the journey.

As Tokyo prepares for quieter days at Ueno Zoo, the memory of two pandas who taught a city about joy, gratitude, and the importance of showing up for what you love will remain.