Fans bid teary farewell to four giant pandas at a zoo in Japan before their return to China
SHIRAHAMA, Japan (AP) — Thousands of fans bid a teary farewell Friday to a family of four giant pandas at a zoo in Japan's coastal town of Shirahama as the animals made their last public appearance before their return to China.
Around 3,000 visitors flocked to the Adventure World theme park to get a last glimpse of the beloved animals. Many rushed straight to the panda exhibit zone, calling out the names of their favorites.
Although the 24-year-old mother Rauhin and her three daughters — Yuihin, Saihin and Fuhin — were all born and raised at the park, they remain on loan from China and must now be returned.
Once they return to China, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo will be the only pandas left in Japan.
More than 1,000 people, many wearing panda-themed attire, queued outside the entrance of the theme park hours before it opened while some camped outside the night before.
Junko Ikeda, who came from the neighboring prefecture of Nara, slept in her camper van Thursday night to secure a parking spot for the pandas' send-off.
'I still can't believe they are all leaving,' Ikeda said.
Giant pandas are native to southwestern China and serve as an unofficial national mascot. Beijing lends them to other countries as a sign of goodwill but maintains ownership over them and any cubs they produce.
Born in 2000, Rauhin had seven other cubs with Eimei, a male panda sent from China in 1994. Eimei returned home two years ago.
Despite strained political ties between Japan and China, giant pandas are hugely popular in Japan.
'We feel comforted just by looking at pandas,' said zoo director Koji Imazu.
Imazu said the departure of the four pandas marks the end of the zoo's 30-year joint project with China. He thanked Chinese specialists for sharing their expertise with the Japanese staff and said the zoo will be ready for a new arrival at any time.
'Of course we all miss them, but I hope you could wish them good health when they go to China,' Imazu said.
In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said giant pandas are 'friendly ambassadors' conveying the goodwill of the Chinese people.
Guo said that China and Japan have collaborated on panda conservation and research since 2000, and that China is ready to further strengthen international cooperation, including with Japan.
Rauhin and her daughters will be flown to China on Saturday where they will join other pandas at a facility in Sichuan province near their original habitat. There, the three young ones will find partners.
___
Associated Press journalist Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Singapore's Blueprint for a Future City
Each week we bring you insights into one of Asia's most dynamic economies. If you haven't yet, please sign up here. This week, Gabrielle Ng looks at how Singapore is trying to adapt its city for an aging population and a hotter world, while Ishika Mookerjee bemoans the pressures that could make air travel even more expensive.
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
Small bear disrupts Japanese airport, prompting low-speed chase on runway
Officials at a small airport in northern Japan conducted a low-speed car chase Thursday to thwart a security risk: a small black bear. An employee at Yamagata airport in Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture spotted the bear near the runway early Thursday morning, according to Japanese outlet Yomiuri Shimbun. Airport personnel briefly shut down operations to run safety checks when staff lost sight of the bear, Yomiuri Shimbun reported. The bear, about four feet tall, reemerged around noon to cause a level of havoc three times its size: Twelve flights were canceled Thursday as airport employees chased the bear around the runway, Yamagata airport official Akira Nagai told Agence France-Presse. 'We're in a stalemate now,' Nagai said at the time, noting that the airport would remain closed until 8 p.m. as they assessed the situation. Nagai confirmed to The Washington Post on Friday that the airport had resumed operations Thursday night after the bear seemed to disappear once more. Yamagata is one of the smaller airports in Japan. The sighting comes as Japan wrestles with an uptick in bear sightings — some of which have resulted in fatalities, Japanese outlet Kyodo News reported in April. Footage from Japan's Nippon TV showed the bear walking through a grassy field and running onto a runway Thursday as a bright-colored car followed behind. In one scene, the bear puts its paws on a fence. 'Given the situation there is no way we can host plane arrivals now,' Nagai told AFP that day. Nagai said hunters were hired to trap the bear. Local police also joined the effort by surrounding the premise, he added. The bear, to Nagai's knowledge, has not been captured. Local hunters are on the lookout. Nagai said he suspects the bear is hiding in the bushes or forest near the airport. Bear sightings — and attacks — in Japan have become increasingly common. Last January, Japan's Ministry of the Environment estimated that the number of bear sightings between April 2023 and October 2023, which is believed to be more than 19,000, surpassed the 18,000 sightings reported in 2020. A week before the black bear delayed flights at Yamagata airport, bear sightings caused a school to move a sports event indoors in Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. Cate Brown contributed to this report.
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Uncharted Japan Celebrates First Anniversary with Over 5,000 Subscribers and Hundreds of Thousands of Views
06/27/2025, Black Mountain, North Carolina // PRODIGY: Feature Story // John and Josephine Haynes on their travels (source: Uncharted Japan) Uncharted Japan, an independent travel storytelling venture, has announced major milestones. Following its first anniversary, its YouTube channel has crossed 5,000 subscribers and accumulated hundreds of thousands of views. Uncharted Japan's growth, especially within the niche category of culturally rich, off-the-beaten-path Japanese travel, reflects a growing demand for authentic, meaningful travel content and the channel's distinct voice. 'We never imagined this would resonate the way it has. I'm in my 60s, and before we started, I had never uploaded a video, never used editing software, and certainly had no experience running a YouTube channel,' says John Haynes, co-founder of Uncharted Japan. 'Most creators on this platform are half our age, and yet here we are, a couple with zero production background, reaching thousands and being recognized in Japan by viewers who've changed their travel plans because of us.' Founded by John and his wife, Josephine, Uncharted Japan began as a passion project inspired by a decades-long love affair with Japan's culture, countryside, and people. John, a former top-producing real estate professional in the US, left a successful career of nearly four decades to launch this channel alongside Josephine, whose ties to Japan run generations deep. Born in Japan, Josephine represents the fourth generation of her American family to have lived there. In 1861, her great-great-grandparents arrived as some of the earliest missionaries permitted into the country after centuries of isolation. That legacy, as well as their frequent visits to the family home near Nagano, gives the Hayneses a unique perspective in the online travel space. Uncharted Japan isn't a typical travel channel. It doesn't showcase the same viral hotspots found on every influencer's itinerary, from Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari or Osaka's Dotonbori. The channel delves into quiet villages, forgotten temples, mom-and-pop eateries, and historic neighborhoods that rarely, if ever, appear on travel blogs or Instagram feeds. Uncharted Japan's content is carefully curated for an older, more discerning audience who value substance over spectacle. 'We avoid clickbait thumbnails or outrageous challenges,' says John. 'We offer in-depth storytelling to travelers who want a slower pace and a genuine connection with Japan's culture and communities.' This focus on depth and discovery distinguishes Uncharted Japan. It has always been dedicated to revealing the side of Japan that most visitors and even some locals overlook. Uncharted Japan's impact is evident in the comments across its videos. Viewers praise its sincere approach and the richness of its recommendations. For instance, its episode on the Osaka Expo 2025 has drawn over 185,000 views, providing viewers with a comprehensive guide to one of Japan's largest events in decades. The Hayneses also receive heartfelt emails and comments almost daily, not only from viewers but also from the Japanese locals whose stories they help amplify. Remote innkeepers and small-town restaurateurs express deep gratitude for the exposure Uncharted Japan provides. Viral travel content usually chases clicks over connection. Uncharted Japan represents a return to what travel is supposed to be about: discovery, understanding, and storytelling. 'Our passion is to show people that there's so much more to Japan than neon lights and cherry blossoms,' John says. 'It's a country of astonishing diversity, history, and quiet beauty, especially in the places most tourists never go. If we can help people experience that, then we've done something worthwhile.' This is what Uncharted Japan remains committed to doing as it moves into its second year. Media Contact Name: John Haynes Email: [email protected]
