Overview
- ShaoShao and LeiLei completed their final public viewing on January 25, with 4,400 reserved slots and a lottery oversubscription rate of about 24.6 times.
- The twins are scheduled to leave Japan on January 27 and are expected to arrive at a Chinese facility by January 28.
- Their exit will temporarily end Japan’s on-island panda presence for the first time since 1972, following Adventure World’s return of four pandas in June 2025.
- Born at Ueno Zoo in 2021 to RiRi and ShinShin, the twins are being repatriated under China’s loan agreements that require the return of pandas, including those born abroad.
- Local tourism leaders in Ueno warn of a significant economic impact, while Taiwan’s pandas remain an exception under distinct cross-strait arrangements.