【英语国际】日本“熊猫守护使”的熊猫情缘

Japan's ambassador to China and his Tokyo-based counterpart may not be having the most fun they've had in their respective posts ever since that nasty boat collision in territorial disputed waters in September. But another kind of Japanese 'ambassador' is relishing experiences in China: In fact, not ready to sever ties with the giant panda, Japanese 'Pambassador' Yumiko Kajiwara has extended her stay in Chengdu until December.

Ms. Kajiwara was one of the six finalists out of over 62,000 applicants selected by an online poll and wildlife conservation experts to serve as a Pambassador, a panda-lover on a year-long mission to raise awareness about the need to protect the animal from extinction. The other five Pambassadors hail from the U.S., Sweden, France, China and Taiwan. The project is organized by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a nonprofit specializing in wildlife research, captive breeding and conservation education, in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature.

After completing a grueling one-month training program where they learned the ins and outs of the giant panda, the six Pambassadors are set to embark on phase two of their crusade to help save the endangered species: returning to their home countries to spread the word about the giant panda. Perhaps in Ms. Kajiwara's case, a little more time in China won't harm her homeland's appreciation of the creature, since Japan is well-known for its love of pandas. The country is expected to pay more than a million dollars a year over the next decade for another pair of the Oreo-eyed animals.


But Ms.Kajiwara's devotion to the giant furballs is much deeper than your average visitor to the zoo. On her personal blog (in English, and appropriately called ' Love Panda!!') chronicling her one-month experience at the Chengdu Panda Base, Ms. Kajiwara, who is from Tokyo, wrote about her daily chores and interaction with the animals. Ms. Kajiwara included a healthy dose of adorable photos, accompanied with imaginary panda dialogue: 'Hiâ ¦I came closer so that you can see me more carefully.'

Still, even pandas haven't been ensconced from the diplomatic tiff between Japan and China. China sent an investigative team to Japan to probe the unexpected death of Kou Kou, a giant pandaon loan to a Japanese zoo, days after the September boat collision.

But maybe Ms. Kajiwara can help soothe tensions. 'Four Japanese-born giant pandas recently returned to the Chengdu Panda Base. They are hence bilingual,' the ever-diplomatic Japanese Pambassador said in a written statement. 'I was so moved when I called their names in Japanese and they recognized it.'

Yoree Koh