Sporting T-shirts, hats and sun umbrellas featuring the black and white bears, visitors shed tears, took selfies and eagerly waved at Ri Ri and Shin Shin on the panda couple's penultimate day at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens.
More than 2,000 panda lovers formed long queues outside the zoo on the morning of Sept 28, some having spent the whole night there armed with picnic blankets and camping chairs.
Among them was Ms Mayuko Sumida, 44, who said she had arrived at around 10pm on Sept 27, carrying her panda-shaped key rings.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she said after admiring Ri Ri and Shin Shin for the last time. “They are the best duo that bring comfort and smiles to me.”
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