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Japan Forward
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Pandas Exit, Taiwan Enters as Shirahama Charts New Course
このページを 日本語 で読む Shirahama Mayor Yasuhiro Oe has been giving serious thought to the town's future. Rather than lamenting the return of all four giant pandas from its well-known leisure facility, Adventure World, he's turning his focus toward a broader vision. The pandas are set to leave for China at the end of June, taking with them one of Shirahama's most iconic tourist attractions. In an interview with The Sankei Shimbun , Oe, formerly a member of the House of Councillors, outlined his intention to strengthen ties with Taiwan. "I want to engage with regions that share our values," he said. Read part one here It probably did. Nikai had such close ties to China that some said he could meet with President Xi Jinping more easily than even Japan's prime minister. If he were still in office, I doubt China would have made Adventure World return all the pandas simply because the contract had ended. Actually, on the night of April 24, right after the news broke, a Diet member friend called and said, "Moriyama and Yuko Obuchi are heading to China over Golden Week (the end of April). Should we ask them to request an extension for you?" I appreciated the offer, but I declined and said, "No, thank you." Because I don't believe we must absolutely get the pandas back. If Adventure World had asked for help lobbying for an extension, that would be one thing. But ultimately, this is a matter between Adventure World and China. During talks with Adventure World, I also sensed they didn't want to become politically involved in this issue. Hiroshi Moriyama (far right), chair of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League, shakes hands with Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department. Beijing, April 28. (Pool photograph) I believe the timing was intentional. China likely wanted to maintain control of the situation and preserve its political leverage. Nevertheless, the shock was very real. During Golden Week, crowds rushed to see the pandas one last time before their departure. This past April, a Chinese Communist Party official from Chenghua visited and expressed interest in formalizing the partnership. I told them, "That could be difficult." I have no intention of pursuing a full sister-city relationship. My hope lies with Taiwan. It's a country that shares Japan's core values: freedom, democracy, and human rights. I want to build ties with partners who uphold those principles. Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (©Sankei by Kiyoshi Ouchi) I'm planning to visit Taiwan and meet with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on May 22. We've known each other since my days in the Diet. I intend to explain Shirahama's situation and ask her directly for support." As long as I'm mayor of Shirahama, I'll accept the reality that we no longer have pandas. I have no intention of asking the Ishiba administration to bring them back. But if Taiwan is willing to support us in other ways, I'd welcome that wholeheartedly." Author: Shimpei Okuhara, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Japan Forward
21-05-2025
- Japan Forward
Pandas Pulled by China: Shirahama Rethinks Its Tourism Future
このページを 日本語 で読む Adventure World in Wakayama has announced that its four giant pandas will be returned to China at the end of June. After that, only two pandas will remain in Japan — at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo. But their lease expires in February 2026. As concern grows over the impending departure of the pandas, some observers point out that China has long used panda loans as a tool for hard currency and diplomacy. In an interview with The Sankei Shimbun , Yasuhiro Oe, former House of Councillors lawmaker and current mayor of Shirahama, outlined a new direction for the town's tourism strategy. First of two parts He expressed a clear intention to move away from Shirahama's heavy reliance on pandas, warning that such dependence risks entangling the town in political maneuvering. alt: He expressed the town's clear intention to move away from heavy reliance on pandas, noting the risks of being caught in international political maneuvering. Excerpts of the interview follow. There's no question they've had a major impact. Thanks to Adventure World's efforts, 17 pandas have been born here, and the park has consistently drawn around 900,000 visitors a year. We're already shifting gears. Shirahama has plenty of other attractions: Shirahama Beach, the hot springs, Sandanbeki Cliffs, and the Senjojiki rock plateau. That said, the townscape still lacks the kind of wonder or escape from daily life that modern tourists seek. Wakayama Prefecture's Shirahama Mayor Yasuhiro Oe during an online interview with The Sankei Shimbun. May 8. On August 1, we'll relaunch Shirarahama Beach as the first phase of our "Post-Panda Project." The goal is to highlight tourism assets that can attract visitors in a stable, sustainable way, without being swayed by global dynamics. No. I first heard the news through a call from a town hall staffer who said, "We've got a serious problem." When I rushed back, reporters were already asking for comments, but I couldn't respond until I knew what had actually happened. Later, when I spoke with the zoo director and manager, they explained that China had told them ten years ago that all pandas would need to be returned once the current lease expired. That contract runs out this August. Still, Adventure World could have given us a heads-up — something like, "At some point, we'll need to return them to China." The pandas in Shirahama are under a direct contract between Adventure World and China. Because the agreement involves the Chinese government, the zoo has had to proceed with extreme caution, like walking on eggshells. I imagine over 90% of the negotiations took place behind closed doors. That's just the reality of dealing with China. There's no denying that China uses pandas as diplomatic tools. Ever since the first pair arrived at Ueno Zoo in 1972, they've controlled the terms. We're just the catchers — they're the ones throwing the ball. If it's a clean pitch, that's fine. But when they throw a wild one, we're left scrambling. And that pattern has continued for decades. A former member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly, Oe went on to serve in the House of Councillors from 2001 to 2013. He represented parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan. Earlier in his career, he worked as secretary to former LDP Home Affairs Minister Kazuo Tamaki. It was a role that helped shape his pro-Taiwan stance. As a national lawmaker, the 71-year-old succeeded former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as president of the Asia-East Friendship Association (now the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association), where he promoted stronger ties between Japan and Taiwan. Continues in: Pandas Exit, Taiwan Enters: Shirahama Mayor Charts New Course Author: Shimpei Okuhara, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
