Chinese media outlet Shangyou News distributed an article on September 30 stating, 'The U.S. has 6 giant pandas, while Japan has 0.'

【その他の写真】

The article first introduced an article from South Korean media outlet Hankyoreh dated September 29. It stated, 'What is being covered is a major event from the past two days,' and explained its content: the arrival of two pandas, 'Ping Ping' and 'Hushuan,' in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, from China on a special plane, increasing the number of pandas in the U.S. to 6, while Japan has none. It further explained that with the return of 'Xiao Xiao' and 'Lei Lei' from Ueno Zoo to China in January this year, Japan became a 'country without pandas' for the first time in 54 years.

The article also reported that major Japanese media outlets covered the arrival of these two pandas in the U.S., and that the director of Zoo Atlanta, where the two pandas live, commented, 'It's a very exciting day for Zoo Atlanta.'

According to the article, pandas disappeared from the zoo in Atlanta with their return in October 2024, and local residents had been waiting for this day for two years.

Currently, the U.S. has 2 pandas in Washington, 2 in San Diego, and 2 in Atlanta. In response, the article stated, 'Meanwhile, Japan has zero,' and argued, 'For the past few years, Japanese people have repeatedly lined up to bid farewell to (returning) pandas. It's not hard to imagine the feelings of Japanese panda fans seeing Americans joyfully welcoming new envoys.' It also argued, 'With the pandas gone, not only have Japanese people lost their enjoyment, but also a pillar supporting the economy.'

The article mentioned Wakayama Prefecture's Shirahama Town, home to Adventure World, stating, 'Previously, with the presence of pandas as a tailwind, it attracted millions of tourists annually from both within Japan and abroad, forming a large industrial chain of tourism and related products.' It also reported that local economic impacts had been covered prior to the return of the pandas kept at that park. (Translated and edited by Noya)