Amid China spat, Japan will lose its two remaining pandas

Japan will be without a panda — a symbol of friendship between the country and China — for the first time since 1972, following a decision that the two twin giant pandas at Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo be returned to China, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said on Monday.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, the only two pandas remaining in Japan, are expected to be sent back to China by the end of January.

The metropolitan government had been negotiating with China for an extension of their stay ahead of their scheduled return in February or for new pandas to be loaned in their place.