Fans bid farewell to Japan's only pandas

Loaned out as part of China's "panda diplomacy" programme, the distinctive black-and-white animals have symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since the normalisation of diplomatic ties in 1972. Some visitors at Ueno Zoological Gardens were left teary-eyed as they watched Japan's only two pandas Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao munch on bamboo. The animals are expected to leave for China on Tuesday following a souring of relations between Asia's two largest economies. "I feel like seeing pandas can help create a connection with China too...