In September 2024, Japan experienced the absence of giant pandas on its soil for the first time in 54 years, following the return of the last resident panda, ‘Xiang Xiang,’ to China. The presence of giant pandas in Japan began in 1972 after the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, when China gifted the first pair—’Kang Kang’ and ‘Lan Lan’—as goodwill ambassadors. Over the decades, pandas became beloved icons in Japanese zoos and deeply embedded in popular culture, even sparking a ‘panda economy’ that fueled merchandise sales, tourism, and media content.Born in 2017 at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Xiang Xiang quickly captured the nation’s heart with her charm and playful demeanor, becoming a household name. Originally scheduled to return to China in 2021, her departure was postponed multiple times due to public affection and pandemic-related logistics, before she finally went home in February 2023. As other loaned pandas also returned under bilateral agreements, Japan was left without any pandas by September 2024.This milestone has sparked widespread public reflection and nostalgia across Japan. While many express hope for new pandas to arrive soon, future arrangements depend on ongoing conservation and research collaborations between China and Japan. Though temporary, this ‘panda-less era’ marks the symbolic pause of a cherished cultural icon—and underscores the importance of international cooperation in wildlife conservation.
2024年9月，随着最后一只旅日大熊猫‘香香’返回中国，日本国内54年来首次没有大熊猫。自1972年中日邦交正常化后，中国向日本赠送了首批大熊猫‘康康’和‘兰兰’，开启了大熊猫作为‘友好使者’在日本的长期居住历史。此后几十年，大熊猫不仅成为日本动物园最受欢迎的明星动物，也深深融入了日本民众的文化生活，甚至带动了‘熊猫经济’——从周边商品到主题旅游，影响力遍及社会多个层面。‘香香’于2017年在东京上野动物园出生，因其可爱外形和活泼性格迅速走红，成为日本家喻户晓的‘国民熊猫’。原本计划2021年归还中国，但因疫情和民众不舍多次延期，最终于2023年2月回国。而随着其他旅日大熊猫陆续按租借协议返回，截至2024年9月，日本境内已无一只大熊猫。这一变化引发日本社会广泛关注与感慨。许多民众表示怀念，也有声音呼吁尽快引入新的大熊猫。不过，根据中日之间的大熊猫保护合作研究协议，未来仍有可能通过科研合作方式再次迎来大熊猫。尽管如此，‘零熊猫时代’的到来，标志着一个文化符号的暂时缺席，也提醒人们珍视跨国自然保护合作的成果与意义。
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