Japan will be without a giant panda for the first time in about 50 years after twin pandas at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo are set to return to China at the end of January — ahead of a February 20 deadline.⁣ ⁣ The cuddly critters topped headlines in Japan on Tuesday as TV cameras captured the crowd of visitors with panda hats, bags and other paraphernalia forming long queues since early morning. ⁣ ⁣ The four-year-old twins, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, were born at the zoo in 2021 but remain on loan from China and must be returned under the terms of the agreement.⁣ ⁣ Their departure follows the return of their parents last year, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time since 1972, when China first sent the animals to mark the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries. ⁣ ⁣ The twins’ final day of public viewing is scheduled for January 25, according to Tokyo authorities.⁣ ⁣ #Japan #China #Pandas #Tokyo #PandaDiplomacy #InternationalRelations