What do you think of all the hype over the arrival of two pandas at Ueno Zoo? Do you think it will boost the local economy and really help Sino-Japan relations?

huh?

Eats, shoots and leaves...

It`s Pandamonium!

Black and white.

The grand arrival of the pandas would put some celebs at shame. Of course, this will boost not only the local economy but the whole nation's. The optimism is well needed. Everything is possible in Mangaland. I wonder how this event was portrayed by the media in China. The pandas deserve a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize at the very least.

This country is in a financial slump, but they have enough money, excuuuuuse me...enough "tax payer" money to take care of Pandas rented, NOT bought from China?! I just don't get it. Have they all totally lost their mind?!!!

Foxie... that was classic!

I am not surprised the Japanese would hype something like this; they hype everything 10x what is deserved. And I do not think a couple panda bears will do anything to meaningfully boost the local economy. Excuse the pun, but we are in a bear market whether these bears are here or not.

hmmm...80 million!!??? when people don't have food to eat, extravagant! a shame for the politicians who fool around with money they have not made! They must be dreaming or live in another world!

No. Pandas are boring. how this will improve relations when the two countries are like two spoilt children who can't get over the past and take offence at every trivial issue is bwyond me.

Ueno Zoo is a miserable place. It's a prison for those who committed no crime. Poor pandas, stuck there for their lives having "kawaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiii" screamed at them all day by the igoramus public.

For an annual charge of 80Million Yen...hmmm, it's a waste of money. Many Japanese are still unemployed. 80Million Yen could be used to help them out. Pandas are only for those spoilt children of Japan to go and see.....

For those complaining about the cost, it is comparable to what other zoos around the world are paying China for pandas. And zoos basically need a panda to boost ticket sales. That said, one would hope China could better use its discretion in sending these animals out to zoos. As others have mentioned above, Ueno houses its animals in extremely small spaces compared with zoos around the globe, such as the excellent San Diego Zoo, which pays China $1,000,000 annually for 2 pandas. One of those has given birth to 5 cubs while in San Diego, and one of those was the first ever panda cub born in the western hemisphere. Pandas need very good environments to thrive and reproduce and that is something I seriously doubt will happen given the conditions at Ueno.

It's propapanda aimed at the lowest common denominator.

The SD zoo pays that much for pandas that no one in SD cares about??? lets send them back

Not only will the pandas pay for themselves but 10 x over. However, not sure about conditions. It will do absolutely nothing to mend relationships. Purely for money.

you guys are just plain jealous thinking of all the kawaii girls hugging thier stuff panda to bed................

Pandamonium!

Panda is a money machine. Dream world from US made the big bucks with Kung Fu Panda I and planning to release No II soon. Santiago Zoo from US and Chiang Mai Zoo from Thailand have already made money with Panda. They increased their turn over and Zoo popularity. Both zoos have successfully bred off springs too. Santiago got five and Chiangmai zoo got two cubs.

Most nations treated the Pandas with rock star welcome. Such as Spain and Australia and Taiwan. Because they are cute and rare like gold or diamonds. Protecting Panda is also good cause for wild life conservation.

Wow !!! New Foreigners in Japan

As long as the pandas don"t commit panda-cide ! ! ! It's ok !!!! As long as Ueno Zoo take care of all the animals not just the freakin pandas. I'm ok with it !!!!

Ooh, delicious!

Japan seems kawaii compared to what Thailand is doing with its panda. 22 million people participated finding a name for her, Linping, which means ice forest. They have 24/7 TV broadcast (on her own Panda Canal)where you can see every movement with a resume twice a day of the highlights.

80 million a year to look after these pandas...bloody ludicrous! There are schools that require badly needed reforming, hospitals that need new equipment, homeless people that need homes, old people that need care. But no, this pathetic government wants to spend it on two pandas.

bread and circuses. if kawaii girls are hugging pandas to sleep though, I am gonna go get me a panderburr suit.