Member of the Hiroshima City Council: Giant Pandas and Hiroshima are Closely Connected
January 26, Asahi Shimbun reported: With the twin giant pandas from Ueno Zoo (Tokyo) returning to China on January 27, Japan will enter its first "zero panda" era in 54 years.
Member of the Hiroshima City Council, Shigeko Sinpei (47 years old), told the media: "Pandas are a symbol of Japan-China friendship, a bridge for peace, and are closely connected with Hiroshima, which has experienced the atomic bomb and longs for peace."
The deep attachment of Member Shigeko Sinpei to pandas originated last June. At that time, his father-in-law and mother-in-law traveled specially to Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture's Shirahama Town to see the pandas. That was just before the pandas were returning to China.
"If there are pandas, they can attract people to Hiroshima, of course, and we also hope this can serve as proof of Japan-China friendship. Meanwhile, Hiroshima Prefecture has the highest net outflow of population in Japan. If giant pandas could stay in Hiroshima permanently, they would become a savior for the 'recovery of Hiroshima.'"
Hiroshima City maintains friendly relations with Chongqing City in China, and Hiroshima Prefecture maintains friendly relations with Sichuan Province. Member Shigeko Sinpei also said: "Although Japan-China relations have become cold, we should maintain friendly relations with China at the grassroots level and not be influenced by emotional arguments."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855352566536192/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.