Japan is urging residents to learn how to protect themselves during bear encounters after a surge in attacks, with one prefectural governor considering asking the military for assistance. The animals are increasingly venturing into populated areas in search of food, prompting daily headlines and a rise in serious incidents.
In Akita prefecture, a jogger and a walker were attacked in built-up areas within the past week, while another bear terrorised four people before taking refuge in a house. Although none of those victims was seriously injured, the environment ministry reports that nine people have died across Japan since April – the highest annual toll on record.
Experts at Akita University, which surveyed 70 people injured in attacks in the bear hotspot, found that lying face down and covering the head and neck significantly reduced the severity of injuries. All seven respondents who adopted that position escaped serious harm. General advice also stresses avoiding eye contact, retreating slowly without turning one's back, and never attempting to run or climb a tree.
Other precautions include carrying a bell or whistle, staying in groups, and using repellent spray, which is considered the most effective deterrent but remains difficult to obtain in Japan. People are also advised not to hike at dawn or dusk, when bears are most active, and to avoid discarding food or rubbish. The country has an estimated 44,000 Asian black bears and 12,000 Ussuri brown bears on the northern island of Hokkaido.
Experts attribute the surge to a decline in acorn and beechnut harvests, warmer winters linked to climate change, and rural depopulation that has allowed overgrown farmland to encroach on traditional woodland buffers. Akita’s governor, Kenta Suzuki, has said he is considering requesting help from the Self-Defence Forces, according to Kyodo news agency.
Environment minister Hirotaka Ishihara has called the rise in attacks a “serious problem” and pledged to train more hunters and manage the bear population. Local businesses are responding too: a hardware store in Gunma prefecture has set aside a section for bells and whistles and is struggling to meet demand for repellent spray, which it rents for up to five days, according to public broadcaster NHK.
