After the death of the elderly Ling Ling in 2008, Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo was without a giant panda for the first time since 1972 — leaving the city’s vast black and white bear-related paraphernalia industry very much in the lurch. However, with two new arrivals last year, production has once again gone into overdrive, and it’s no surprise at all that pachinko has also got in on the act. But, with pandas practically everywhere, some passersby are clearly unimpressed with such kinds of promotion.
The expression on that guy’s face is priceless. Great moment you captured.
Thanks Thom. I do like his look of complete and utter disinterest!
Priceless moment. Great shot!
Cheers!
Agreed, the panda in combination with the lack of interest of that bloke really makes this shot
Yeah, the panda was interesting, but without the bloke, not that interesting. Just happy he came along at just the right time.
I’d love to make that panda angry in a attempt to trigger a fight, then to run away, with the hope he would follow…
But what if he caught you…?!
That might create pandamonium – no more black eyes please!
I’m glad the B.W.B.R.P.I is not R.I.P. just yet.
It’s the bear essentials for a great capture – and it is!
Haha, cheers!
No danger of that, it’s boom time for the B.W.B.R.P.I these days. And if the new arrivals are anywhere near as healthy as Ling Ling was, it’ll be for a long time to come too.
Interesting shot!!
I have a good laugh…! It seem like The Panda and the man Face-off.
Thanks Winnie. Yeah, and the man won I think.
You definitely don’t want to do that. It’d result in an afternoon of canned coffee, countless cigarettes and a massive loss of money!
Hrm. Perhaps then I’d just sneak up behind him and have someone take a picture from across the street.
Wise move!
while its winter i believe man inside panda costume was comfort.
Yes, very comfortable I’d guess, but he needs to make sure he’s got a different job come the summer…
Panda on the streets of London
Panda on the streets of Tokyo
I wonder to myself..
Could life ever be safe again
Nice to see you picked up on the Smiths reference!
Just as an aside, the wikipedia entry states “He served as an important symbol of the Ueno Zoo and of friendship between Japan and China”
No wonder the poor bugger’s dead!
Yeah, even on those admittedly hefty shoulders, that was a massive burden…