Japan says emotional goodbye as last two giant pandas head to China

Surprising news has arrived just days after Japan is set to return two giant pandas to China, prompting fans to flock to Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo for a final sighting on Tuesday. According to Reuters, the main announcement was that four-year-old Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei would head to China at the end of January ahead of the February 20 final deadline. The recent news was depressing for a nation that has long had a love affair with pandas. While this move was planned, the departure is rich in symbolism, occurring as China-Japan relations have strained due to geopolitical tensions. Beijing…