Japan Panda Timeline

Dan Dan passed away at age 28 due to worsening heart disease. She was later appointed a China-Japan Friendship Envoy.

Lei Lei debuted via lottery at Ueno Zoo.

Xiao Xiao debuted via lottery at Ueno Zoo.

Lei Lei was named from 190,000 public submissions.

Xiao Xiao was named from 190,000 public submissions.

Lei Lei was born at ueno_zoo.

Lei Lei was born at Ueno Zoo, twin of Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao was born at ueno_zoo.

Shin Shin gave birth to a pair of twins at Ueno Zoo — a male (Xiao Xiao, 晓晓) and a female (Lei Lei, 蕾蕾). This was Ueno Zoo's first panda twin birth. Both cubs remain at Ueno Zoo as of 2026.

Fuhin made her public debut at Adventure World.

Fuhin was named at Adventure World in Japan.

Fuhin was born at adventure_world_japan.

Ryu Hin was born at adventure_world_japan.

Syu Hin was born at adventure_world_japan.

Tou Hin was born at adventure_world_japan.

Saihin (彩浜) was born weighing only 75g — the smallest cub ever at Adventure World — and required emergency medical intervention before being returned to her mother Rau Hin.

Xiang Xiang debuted at Ueno Zoo.

Xiang Xiang was named from 320,000 submissions.

Xiang Xiang was born at ueno_zoo.

Shin Shin gave birth to a healthy female cub, later named Xiang Xiang (香香). She was the first surviving panda born at Ueno Zoo since 1988 and became a national celebrity in Japan. Xiang Xiang returned to China on February 21, 2023.

Jie Bin (结浜/Yui Hin) was born at Adventure World as the 7th cub of Rau Hin, her name symbolizing the跨 border connections of the Hama Family.

Yui Hin (结浜) was born at Adventure World weighing 197g, the 7th surviving cub of Ei Mei and Rau Hin, named to symbolize connecting cultures across borders.

Jiehin was born at adventure_world_japan.

Ou Hin was born at adventure_world.

Tao Bin was born at adventure_world.

Tou Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, twin sister of Sakura Hin.

Ying Bin was born at adventure_world.

You Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, known for her long, elegant limbs.

Shin Shin gave birth to a male cub on July 5, 2012 — Ueno's first panda birth in 24 years — but the cub died on July 11 from aspiration pneumonia after being unable to nurse properly. The loss triggered mourning across Japan.

Ri Ri and Shin Shin departed China for Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, as a new breeding pair under a 12-year cooperative research agreement.

Shin Shin (仙女/Xian Nv) arrived at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan together with her mate Ri Ri (比力, sb611) under a 10-year cooperative research agreement. They made their public debut on March 22, 2011, ending Ueno's three-year period without pandas since Ling Ling's death in 2008.

Long Long died from anesthetic complications during semen collection at Kobe Oji Zoo.

Kai Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, twin of You Hin.

You Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, twin of Kai Hin.

Mei Mei died from a severe intestinal obstruction at Adventure World in Japan.

The "Great Mother" of Adventure World's panda family, Mei Mei, died at age 14.

Mei Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, first AI-conceived twin in Japan.

Yong Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, twin of Mei Hin.

Ai Hin received her name through a public contest with 7,168 entries. Her name "爱浜" means "loved by all," reflecting the hope that she would grow strong and be cherished.

Ai Hin was born at adventure_world.

Ming Hin (明浜) was born at Adventure World as the smaller twin at 84g, the last cub of Eimei and Mei Mei, in a historic winter birth from autumn mating.

Kou Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, the first surviving twin born in Japan.

Kouhin was born at adventure_world.

Shuhin was born at Adventure World, Japan, as the first naturally nursed twin panda cub along with his brother Ryu Hin.

Ryu Hin was born at Adventure World, Japan, as the first naturally nursed twin panda cub along with his brother Shuhin.

Syu Hin and his twin brother Ryu Hin born at Adventure World, Japan — the first panda twins successfully nursed by their mother.

Long Long arrived at Kobe Oji Zoo as the second Xing Xing.

Yu Hin (雄浜) was born at Adventure World — the world's first autumn-mating, winter-birth captive panda, a historic breeding achievement.

Liang Bin was born at adventure_world.

Rau Hin was born at adventure_world.

Rauhin was born at adventure_world_japan.

Rau Hin (良浜) born at Adventure World, Wakayama, Japan — the first giant panda born at the park.

Dan Dan arrived at Kobe Oji Zoo in Japan as a symbol of hope for the city recovering from the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.

Jin Zhu arrived at Kobe Oji Zoo as the first Xing Xing.

Mei Mei moved to Adventure World in Japan as part of the China-Japan breeding program.

Rong Hin passed away at less than five years of age at Adventure World.

Dan Dan moved to adventure_world_japan.

Mei Mei moved to adventure_world.

Ei Mei traveled to Adventure World in Japan for the cooperative breeding program.

Rong Hin and Yong Ming arrived in Japan for the world's first international panda breeding program.

Tong Tong was born at Ueno Zoo, the first panda raised entirely in Japan.

Kang Kang, one of Japan's first giant pandas, died at Ueno Zoo. His specimen is preserved at Tama Zoological Park.

Lan Lan died while pregnant at Ueno Zoo, triggering national mourning in Japan. Her specimen is at Tama Zoological Park.

Kang Kang and Lan Lan arrived at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo as the first giant pandas ever to live in Japan, sparking nationwide panda fever.