Panda cub raises fresh hopes of better China-Japan relations

Friendship may no longer be the catchphrase in China-Japan relations. But the black-and-white cuddly creatures from China continue to endear themselves to Japanese fans. In a notice announcing the birth of a giant panda cub posted at its entrance last Monday, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has asked visitors to maintain silence in the panda enclave. The panda father, Ri Ri, is on solo show while the mother, Shin Shin, with her cub, is now on maternity leave.

"We would like to provide her (Shin Shin) with a calm and comfortable environment so that she can concentrate on childcare," the zoo notice says.

The zoo has reason to be careful about the newborn panda. In 2012, the panda couple lost their first cub six days after it was born, reducing the zoo director to tears. In 2013, Japanese panda fans were abuzz with the news of Shin Shin's second pregnancy, which, however, turned out to be a false alarm.