As a symbol of friendship and goodwill, giant pandas have carried too much meaning between China and Japan for decades.
Tomorrow, Xiangka, a female giant panda who has lived at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo for more than five years, will embark on a journey home. Yesterday, it was the day when "Kaka" met visitors on his last day at Ueno Zoo. Thousands of Japanese selected by lot came to the zoo to say goodbye to "Xiangxiang", and many left tears of reluctance.
As a symbol of friendship and goodwill, giant pandas have carried too much meaning between China and Japan for decades. Under the situation that "if the two countries do not advance, they will retreat", many Japanese people sincerely expressed their hope that "Xiangxiang" can become an "love bean" to promote Sino-Japanese friendship.
The Japanese people bid farewell in tears
On February 19, "Xiangxiang" "clocked in to work" for the last time at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo. The panda hall that day was particularly crowded. Although only 2,600 lucky winners won the opportunity to say goodbye to "Xiangxiang" face-to-face through the lottery, there were still many tourists hovering outside the panda pavilion just to get closer to their "beauty fragrance".
On February 19, the Japanese people bid farewell to "fragrant fragrance". Source: AP
Inside the Panda Hall, there was also a long queue of visitors. Although the visit lasts only 2 minutes, some visitors even wait for hours. Among them, there are old people on crutches, couples holding babies, young people with professional equipment, and fandy fans holding panda dolls or wearing panda hoodies... When the bell rings at the end of the visit, tourists wave goodbye to "Xiangxiang", slowly leave in reluctance, and even burst into tears.
"Xiangxiang" was born in June 2017 to parents "Bili" and "Fairy", the giant pandas in Japan. In December 2017, "Xiangxiang" made its public debut and immediately became the "top stream" of Ueno Zoo, and its popularity exploded.
"Kaka" quickly became the "top" of Tokyo's Ueno Zoo after birth. Source: Nikkei Shimbun
Mitsuki Wada, who lives in Saitama Prefecture, is a hardcore "fragrant powder", and since "Xiangxiang" first appeared, she has come to see "Xiangxiang" every weekend and when she is not at work, and "there should be hundreds of times" so far. Talking about the future life of "Xiangxiang", Mitsuki Wada cried silently and wished "Xiangxiang" health and happiness. Takashi Takashi, a panda photographer and blogger of the "Daily Panda" blog, held a photo exhibition "Xiangxiang" on the second floor corner of Matsuzaya House, a Japanese department store not far from Ueno Zoo. He selected 920 photos from 100,000 photos to document the 920 days he met with "Xiangxiang" between December 19, 2017 and November 27, 2022.
Gao is looking forward to visiting relatives in China in the future. Source: Xinhua News Agency
According to Japanese media reports, Ueno Zoo receives calls and emails from the public every day, hoping that the zoo can find a way to retain "Xiangxiang". However, according to the Sino-Japanese bilateral agreement, because Xiangxiang's parents are giant pandas rented from China, the ownership of the cubs they give birth to belongs to China. In fact, "Xiangxiang" was originally scheduled to be returned to China at the end of December 2020, but due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, its return date has been postponed four times.
Arouse the attention of international public opinion
The Japanese people's love for "fragrant fragrance" has also attracted widespread attention from the Japanese and Chinese countries and the international media.
Japan's Asahi Shimbun, Broadcasting Association (NHK), Kyodo News and other news organizations have made special reports on the upcoming return of "Xiangxiang" to Japan. The Asahi Shimbun reported that "Xiangxiang" was as usual on the 19th, sometimes lying on a wooden bed, sometimes getting up and yawning, and eating bamboo in front of the people. The garden said that "Xiangxiang" may have sensed the people's unusual enthusiasm and was more lively than usual.
The Japanese people are very eager to see the last side of "Xiangxiang", and the lowest winning rate is only 1:70. Source: AFP
NHK reported that every time Xiangxiang made an action, cheers and screams rang out in the exhibition hall. A woman from Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, although she was not selected, chose to come to the panda house to say goodbye. "I came with the idea of being by her side," she said. For 5 years, I have been happy and laughing. ”
Agence France-Presse reported that these mammals with black and white fur are popular all over the world. The AP was amazed at how thousands of Japanese fans wept over the departure of a panda. Giant pandas outside China are often used as a symbol of goodwill, and it is true that the Japanese public perceives this friendship.
"I would like to thank 'Xiangxiang'." Graphic designer Natsuki Mizuguchi said that she was recovering from illness when she first saw Xiangxiang, and that every time she visited Xiangxiang, her health would improve, "I am sure that Xiangxiang will become China's 'love bean', and I hope she can become a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship." ”
Remember the original intention of peace and friendship
In sharp contrast to the enthusiasm of the Japanese people for "fragrant fragrance", Sino-Japanese relations are facing a new and complex environment.
The official website of the Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a press release on the 20th, saying that Chinese Ambassador to Japan Kong Xuanyou will leave his post in the near future and has resigned to some Japanese political party leaders and political and business friends, as well as "old friends". Kong Xuanyou said: History proves that peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation between China and Japan are the only correct choice. Japan's "old friends" said that Japan-China relations are facing a new and complex environment, and it is necessary for the two sides to keep in mind the original intention of peace and friendship and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on the afternoon of 20 February that Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong will go to Japan on 21 February to hold the 17th Sino-Japanese Security Dialogue with Shigeo Yamada, Foreign Affairs Deliberator of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the 29th regular consultations between the Chinese and Japanese diplomatic authorities.
Japanese media said that this will be the second time that the two countries will hold this dialogue after about four years after the China-Japan Security Dialogue held in Beijing, China, in 2019. In view of Japan's recent strengthening of cooperation with the US policy of suppressing China, China-Japan relations are showing a downward trend, and how China and Japan exchange views on increasingly prominent security issues and bridge differences has attracted much attention from the outside world. Kyodo News commented that if the security dialogue can be held, it will help ease tensions between the two countries.
Although the issue between China and Japan may not be solved through a single dialogue, strengthening exchanges and restoring mutual trust are always necessary conditions for the development of bilateral relations. For Japanese friends who look forward to visiting "Xiangxiang" in China again in the future, "Xiangxiang" represents not only spiritual healing, but also longing and expectation for peace and beauty.
Produced by Deep Sea Studios
Written by Deep Sea Turtles
Edit by Deep Sea Otter