"The twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei received visits from hordes of fans at their zoo home in Tokyo on Sunday ahead of their return to China at the end of the month, which comes as strained Japanese-Chinese ties make it unlikely that they will be replaced any time soon. Their departure will leave Japan without the cuddly black-and-white animals for the first time since 1972, when China presented the country with two pandas, Kang Kang and Lan Lan, as a gift."
"According to Katsuhiro Miyamoto, an economics professor at Kansai University, the absence of pandas at the zoo will cause an annual loss of about 20 billion yen (108.24 million; $128 million). "If the situation continues for several years, the negative economic impact of having no pandas is expected to reach tens of billions of yen," Miyamoto said in a statement. "For panda-loving Japanese, including myself, I hope they return as soon as possible.""
""The pandas have given me so much energy, courage, healing," adding: "I wanted to come today to express my gratitude.""
Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, four-year-old pandas at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, received farewell visits from large crowds ahead of their return to China at month’s end. Strained Japanese-Chinese ties make replacements unlikely, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time since China gifted Kang Kang and Lan Lan in 1972. Thousands applied for lottery-assigned tickets that allowed one-minute viewing windows; many others visited to pay respects from outside. Visitors described emotional attachments, citing energy, courage and healing. An economics professor estimated an annual revenue loss of about 20 billion yen and warned prolonged absence could cost tens of billions of yen.
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