當地時間12月17日，日本神戶市議員上畠寬弘拋出一項引發關注的構想，主張日本的動物園可與台灣的動物園進行動物交換，並點名希望從台北市立動物園引進大熊貓，同時對外表示相關接觸與協商已經展開。這番言論迅速在日本國內與周邊地區引起討論，也被視為日本在大熊貓議題上所面臨困境下的一種另類嘗試。

此一提議的背景，與日本即將迎來「零熊貓時代」密切相關。根據既有安排，日本目前僅存的兩隻大熊貓「曉曉」與「蕾蕾」將於下個月期滿返回中國。隨著牠們離開，日本多座動物園將不再有大熊貓展出，無論在觀光吸引力或象徵意義上，都被視為一個不小的空缺。然而，近年來日方在部分涉華議題上的立場與言行，屢次觸及中方的政治敏感底線，也使得重新推動新的大熊貓租借合作面臨高度不確定性。在此情況下，上畠寬弘提出以「動物交換」的形式，嘗試尋找新的可能性，某種程度上反映出日本地方層級政治人物對於失去大熊貓後所產生壓力與焦慮。

整體而言，這項提議目前仍停留在構想與對外表態階段，實際可行性、是否具備制度與現實層面的操作空間，仍有待觀察。但可以確定的是，隨著「曉曉」與「蕾蕾」即將返華，日本社會圍繞大熊貓去留的討論，勢必還會持續發酵一段時間。

On December 17, local time, Hirohiro Ubatake, a city councilor from Kobe, Japan, proposed a highly controversial idea, suggesting that Japanese zoos could engage in an animal exchange program with zoos in Taiwan, specifically requesting giant pandas from the Taipei Zoo. He also stated that preliminary discussions and negotiations had already begun. The announcement quickly drew attention both within Japan and in neighboring regions, and was seen as an alternative attempt by Japan to address the challenges it now faces regarding giant panda diplomacy.

This proposal comes against the backdrop of Japan soon entering a so-called “panda-free era.” According to existing arrangements, the country’s last two giant pandas, Xiaoxiao and Leilei, are scheduled to return to China next month. Once they leave, multiple Japanese zoos will no longer have giant pandas on display, creating a noticeable gap both in terms of tourist attraction and symbolic significance.

In recent years, Japan’s positions and actions on certain China-related issues have repeatedly touched upon China’s political sensitivities, making the possibility of a new giant panda loan highly uncertain. In this context, Councilor Ubatake’s suggestion of an “animal exchange” can be seen, in part, as a response to the pressure and anxiety generated by the imminent loss of giant pandas from Japanese zoos.

Overall, the proposal remains at the conceptual and public statement stage, and its practical feasibility or operational viability is still uncertain. However, with Xiaoxiao and Leilei soon returning to China, discussions and public interest in Japan regarding the presence—or absence—of giant pandas are expected to continue for some time.