A 69-year-old security guard survived a frightening bear attack while using a public toilet in Japan, highlighting a dramatic and alarming surge in human-bear encounters across the country.
The Toilet Encounter
The incident occurred on Friday near Numata railway station in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. The man was exiting the public facility when he spotted the bear, which was approximately 1 to 1.5 metres tall, prying inside. The animal immediately launched an assault, causing the man to fall backwards.
Showing remarkable presence of mind, the security guard fought back, kicking at the bear with his legs until it fled the scene. He sustained minor injuries to his right leg and was able to make his way to a nearby police post to report the terrifying ordeal.
A Growing National Crisis
This bathroom encounter is not an isolated event. It follows another recent incident in the same area where a bear wandered into a grocery store, attacked someone in the car park, and pinned a customer to the ground while tearing through food counters. That bear, measuring about 1.4 metres tall, was seen rummaging through fish and sushi displays.
The statistics paint a grim picture of a nation grappling with an unprecedented wildlife crisis. Since April, 13 people have been killed in bear attacks, marking the highest death toll on record. Furthermore, a record 220 people have been injured by bears in the same period, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Bear sightings have also skyrocketed, topping 100 this year compared to just 35 last year. Two-thirds of the fatalities have occurred in the northern prefectures of Akita and Iwate.
National Response and Economic Impact
The Japanese government has been forced to take drastic action. Japan’s military was deployed this week to help set and inspect traps after local authorities were overwhelmed by the sheer number of incidents. Police have launched a culling campaign, with amended rules now permitting them to use rifles to kill the animals.
In an extraordinary measure, riot police trained to use firearms against militants have been sent to northern prefectures to assist local law enforcement.
The economic fallout has reached the insurance sector. Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance announced on Friday it will introduce new coverage for businesses affected by bear intrusions, aimed at hotel and leisure operators. A subsidiary of MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings is offering support to local governments for emergency bear-hunting operations, with fees starting at ¥300,000 (£1,470).
Internationally, Hong Kong-based Blue Cross (Asia Pacific) Insurance has added extra bear-attack protection to its travel policies, citing climate change and shifting habitats as key factors increasing the risk for tourists in destinations like Japan.
