A bear has injured four people in a Japanese residential area, marking the latest in a series of attacks as the annual number of bear incidents rises across the country. The attack occurred on Tuesday in the Sasakino district of Fukushima, northeastern Japan, according to police and fire department officials.
Details of the Attack
Emergency services responded to a call from the Fukushima Steel Works reporting bear attacks on two employees. Security camera footage shows a black bear chasing a man in his 20s near the entrance, throwing him to the ground. The bear then moved into the factory compound, injuring a second male employee in his 60s. A third male employee in his 60s at a separate company was also attacked. Additionally, a woman in her 80s living nearby was injured. The Fukushima City Fire Department reported that the three men sustained minor injuries, while the woman had moderate injuries; none were life-threatening.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the bear had not been caught and was believed to be inside the second company compound, surrounded by police carrying long sticks. Two nearby schools, including Noda Elementary School, closed and shifted to online classes, warning residents to avoid non-essential outings.
Rising Bear Incidents
Japan's Environment Ministry reported that 13 people were killed in over 230 bear attacks in 2025, surpassing previous records. This incident has rekindled fears from last year, when the army was dispatched to Akita prefecture after more than 60 attacks, including four fatalities. Experts attribute the rise in encounters to a growing bear population in regions with aging and declining human populations, where few people are trained to hunt.
The Japanese government estimated the bear population at around 57,800 in March. Officials have adopted a management plan calling for systematic culling, aiming to triple municipal bear control staff to 2,500 within five years and double the number of bear traps. Bear sightings have been reported in Tokyo's western suburbs, including Okutama, where additional traps and social media alerts have been implemented.
Safety Recommendations
The government has intensified public awareness campaigns, urging hikers and mushroom hunters to check bear sighting notifications and avoid outdoor activity during dawn and dusk when bears are active. An environment ministry manual advises that those encountering a bear should not panic, move slowly, and avoid turning around or running. As a last resort, if attacked, individuals should turn face down, curl into a ball, and cover their neck to prevent fatal wounds.
