The newly named twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei are seen here on Oct. 4, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society)

       TOKYO -- A selection committee has decided on the names of the giant panda twins born in June at Ueno Zoological Gardens in the capital's Taito Ward: Xiao Xiao for the male cub, and Lei Lei for the female cub, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike announced at a scheduled briefing Oct. 8.

       The Tokyo Metropolitan Government had called on the public in August to submit suggestions, of which there were ultimately 192,712. From those names, a panel of six people including actress Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, who is the honorary chairperson of the Panda Protection Institute of Japan, deliberated the options, and the metropolitan government made the final choice.

       (Japanese original by Shinji Kurokawa, Tokyo City News Department)

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0