In 2021, Xiao Xiao and his sister Lei Lei were born as the first twin giant pandas at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo.

On their last viewing day on January 25, about 4,400 people selected in a prior lottery came to see the pair one last time.

At about 4:25 p.m., the last batch of about 100 visitors saw the pandas’ last public appearance in Japan, lingering to savor the final moments.

S/ Panda fan / Since he was about 18 months old, he’s loved pandas for 8 years. They’re like treasure to him.

S/ Panda fan / They were cute. I’m sad without the pandas.

The two pandas will leave the zoo on January 27 and depart for China from Narita Airport.

The history of giant pandas in Japan, spanning more than half a century, has come to a close.