Professor of Kansai University: The Economic Impact of Japan Losing Giant Pandas

The Japanese media "Yorozu~News" published an article by Professor Masahiro Miyamoto, emeritus professor of Kansai University (80 years old), on December 22nd, analyzing the economic impact of "Japan losing pandas".

After losing giant pandas, it will cause at least 19.5 billion yen (about 897 million RMB) in losses within one year.

Professor Miyamoto commented: "If this situation continues for several years, the negative economic impact caused by the absence of pandas is expected to reach hundreds of billions of yen."

In June 2025, four giant pandas from the Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture's White Beach Town were returned to China. On December 15th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced that the twin pandas originally scheduled to be returned to China in February 2026 will be returned to China by the end of January 2026. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1972, when pandas entered the Tokyo Ueno Zoo, Japan will have no pandas for the first time.

Professor Miyamoto said that the economic benefits brought by pandas to White Beach Town have lasted for 31 years, generating 125.66 billion yen (about 5.8 billion RMB) in economic benefits. In other words, White Beach Town used to gain about 4.1 billion yen (about 190 million RMB) in economic benefits per year due to the pandas.

From June 2017 to December 2020, the economic benefits brought by the panda "Sho-Sho" were approximately 53.9 billion yen (about 2.5 billion RMB). Professor Miyamoto said that after the pandas leave the Ueno Zoo, there will be at least 15.4 billion yen (about 700 million RMB) in annual losses. Not only the Ueno Zoo, but also hotels, inns, restaurants, and souvenir shops in the Ueno area will be greatly affected.

Professor Miyamoto concluded: "If both the pandas from White Beach Town's Adventure World and the Ueno Zoo return to China, Japan will suffer at least 19.5 billion yen (about 900 million RMB) in losses within a year."

Finally, Professor Miyamoto said: I hope pandas return to Japan soon.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1852171619272716/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.