Panda cub name fever grips Japan
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It seems the Japanese are as crazy about pandas as the Chinese.

Social media Japan goes mad with excitement after details of the panda cub's birth were released. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

Following the birth of a baby panda in June, Ueno Zoo in Tokyo received more than 320,000 name ideas from the Japanese public, reports Mainichi Shimbun.

Overnight the panda birth hit the headlines and dominated social media, partly because this was the first panda birth in Japan in over five years. The story topped Yahoo News, and social media was filled with comments by well wishers. Even the Japanese government described it as "good news".

Social media Japan goes mad with excitement after details of the panda cub's birth were released. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

Ueno Zoo launched a competition to find a name for the new arrival on July 28, which lasted till August 10. In just two weeks they'd received 320,000 suggestions, proving the popularity of the panda cub among Japanese people.

A panda-shaped robot that speaks in six languages offers guidance to visitors at Ueno Station on Tokyo Metro's Ginzo Line. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

Panda images have been popping up everywhere.

Shoes with panda's images on the toes are proving best sellers in Japan. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

The judges are expected to come up with their naming decision on the cub's hundred-day ceremony in late September, after liaising with their Chinese counterparts.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan