Japan's cherished elderly giant pandas, Shin Shin and Ri Ri, were safely transported back to China on Sunday, as reported by Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Garden on its official website.
The duo arrived at the Ueno zoo in 2011, providing a much-needed respite to the nation just months after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 of that year. Over the years, they continued to captivate fans of all ages.
A month ago, when it was revealed that the aging pandas would soon be returned to China for treatment of high blood pressure, visitors rushed to catch a final glimpse of the beloved pair. Hiyori Sakurai, a 30-something artist, shared that she has been visiting the zoo every Sunday and even on some weekdays when she could manage to take time off from work.
"Whenever I go through a tough time, I would go see Ri Ri and Shin Shin, and they always lifted my spirits," she said. Etsuko Tokuda, a self-employed woman in her 60s, has been visiting the zoo almost daily since the announcement of their return.
"Each day was precious to me. I wanted to see them, even if they were just sleeping." Native to China, pandas have, over the years, come to symbolize "envoys of friendship," and China's practice of loaning pandas to other countries has been termed panda diplomacy.
Saturday marked the last opportunity to see Shin Shin and Ri Ri at the Ueno zoo, but their twins, born in June 2021, will stay behind. While saddened by the departure of the panda couple, retiree Harumi Iteguchi found solace in the thought.
"Knowing that Ri Ri and Shin Shin will return together as a couple to their homeland brought me some comfort."
