Photo/Illutration Futa the red panda at Chiba Zoological Park in Chiba in July 2018 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

All living creatures, without exception, grow old.

Futa, the red panda at Chiba Zoological Park who once captivated the minds of the entire nation with his imposing standing pose, now faces the twilight of his life.

Futa was born in Shizuoka in 2003 and arrived in Chiba soon after. In spring 2005, as he was turning 2, a city news page of The Asahi Shimbun carried a photo of his valiant figure under a headline saying, “Look, I’m on my feet.”

The article evoked a huge response, though it is not particularly uncommon for animals of the species to stand on their hind legs. Collections of Futa’s photos were published in book format, and he was even featured in a commercial for a canned coffee product.

Futa is now in his 80s or 90s in human years. Late last year, he developed an abscess at the root of a tooth and stopped eating bamboo grass, his staple food. He underwent surgery and spent some time in the hospital.

He was again being shown to zoo visitors from May this year, but his eyesight has failed, and he is no longer seen rushing up a scaffold like he used to do.

Yasuo Mizukami, 54, a keeper at the zoo, said Futa has fathered eight children and has 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Many of his children have been sent to other zoos in Japan and abroad, including in Chile. Futa outlived his wife, who departed six years ago, and now lives by himself.

“His curiosity remains as lively as in his youth, but he does not open his heart to humans in the same way that he did not when he was younger,” Mizukami said.

As I watched Futa up close the other day, he looked so stooped as he trudged along. Signs of his old age showed everywhere compared with how he looked in the photo collections of years gone by.

But his eyes still brimmed with a unique sort of confidence, which even verged on defiance.

“What’s wrong with getting old?” he appeared to be asking me. “You will also be getting old in time.”

Not a day passes of late when I don't realize my failing physical strength and brain power, though I know complaining about it won’t get me anywhere.

I only hope to remain as graceful and dignified as Futa is when it will be my turn to face the twilight of my own life.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 30

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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