The Adventure World in Wakayama, Japan, recently published a photo book titled “Towards Life, Beyond Life.” The book documents the progress of the Sino-Japanese joint giant panda breeding research since its inception.
According to the report by Asia-Pacific News, the cover of the photo book features an image of the female giant panda “Liang Bang,” created by Japanese animal artist Yoshitaro Kototsuka. The book includes photos, daily breeding reports, discussions with former zookeepers, and illustrations drawn by the keepers, summarizing the advancements made in panda breeding research over the past 30 years.

In September 1994, with the arrival of the giant pandas “Yong Ming” and “Rong Bang” at Adventure World in Wakayama, the formal Sino-Japanese collaboration in panda breeding began. Over the course of 30 years, the park has successfully bred 17 giant pandas, 13 of which have been returned to China. Currently, the giant pandas “Liang Bang,” “Jie Bang,” “Cai Bang,” and “Feng Bang” continue to live at the park.
Hasegawa Honami, the park’s spokesperson, expressed, “Thanks to the support of visitors and local residents, we have been able to celebrate the 30th anniversary as planned. We appreciate the ongoing attention and support from those who have followed the panda family. The 13 giant pandas that returned to China have encountered new companions, and more than 20 offspring have been born. The panda family continues to grow. We hope that through this photo book, everyone can share in the miracle of the past 30 years.”