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       Twin pandas Lei Lei, left, and Xiao Xiao, right, are seen with their mother Shin Shin, center, on Dec. 13, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society)

       Twin pandas Lei Lei, top, and Xiao Xiao, bottom, are seen on Dec. 13, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society)

       TOKYO -- Ahead of giant panda twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei's first public display planned for Jan. 12, 2022, Ueno Zoological Gardens in the capital's Taito Ward will begin accepting applications to see the pair from Dec. 21, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced among other details on Dec. 16.

       The male and female panda cubs will be shown with their mother Shin Shin at the "Panda Forest" in the zoo's west section. A maximum of 1,080 people can see them from 10 a.m. to noon daily. Applications open online at 1 p.m. on Dec. 21.

       After registering as a member on a special website, applicants can select the time they wish to visit, which is divided into three slots per day, and obtain a QR code they will have to show to see the twin cubs if they win a lottery. Applications are limited to five people per group. Individuals can view the pandas for about one minute on a given day.

       According to the zoo, Xiao Xiao has been active recently, and persistently tries to play with Shin Shin and wrestle with Lei Lei. Meanwhile, Lei Lei is apparently biting bamboo and playing in water by herself.

       Applications are open from Dec. 21 to 24 to see the pandas between Jan. 12 and 14, 2022, and lottery results will be announced at 1 p.m. on Dec. 27. After New Year's, applications will be accepted about two weeks before each viewing period. For details, access the giant panda mother and children viewing lottery site at: http://tokyo-zoo.e-tix.jp/ (in Japanese).

       (Japanese original by Asako Takeuchi, Tokyo City News Department)

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