Japan is facing the highest number of bear attacks on record, prompting regional authorities to ask for help from the military and expand incentives for local hunters. Officials and media are describing the situation as Japan’s worst wildlife crisis in decades.
According to data cited by the Japanese timesAt least 12 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured across the country this year, most in northern prefectures such as Akita, Iwate and Fukushima. Bears have been spotted near homes, schools and shopping areas, forcing temporary closures in rural towns.
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A brown bear chews the bars of its cage in Sunagawa, Japan. (Reuters)
In late October, Akita Governor Norihisa Satake formally requested assistance from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) after repeated massacres overwhelmed local authorities. The military’s role is strictly non-combat and focuses on logistics, such as helping transport carcasses, setting traps and patrolling forest areas where bears have been sighted.
Defense officials have clarified that only licensed hunters, and not soldiers, are authorized to shoot bears that pose an immediate threat.
Japan’s hunter population has been shrinking for years, with about 60% of licensed hunters now over the age of 60. Reuters. Many of northern Japan’s traditional matagi bear followers have retired, leaving fewer people in rural areas to respond to emergencies. To fill this gap, local governments in Akita, Niigata and Hokkaido have increased subsidies, training allowances and per-bear rewards to attract new recruits.
A warning sign is seen on the closed walkway to the observatory in Shirakawago Ward, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on October 7, 2025 in Hida, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. A Spanish tourist was injured after being attacked by a wild bear in the historic area of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its traditional farmhouses with steep roofs. (VCG via Getty Images)
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Experts attribute the increase to a mix of environmental and demographic factors: poor acorn and beechnut harvests, warmer winters that delay hibernation, and rural depopulation that leaves farmland and buffer zones between forests and cities unmanaged.
The spike in encounters has also reignited a national debate about how to balance conservation with public safety. Bears have long been respected in Japanese folklore and rural culture, symbolizing strength and endurance. But as attacks increase, local residents are demanding stricter control measures, while environmental groups are pushing for humane solutions and better forest management instead of widespread culling.
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A brown bear is trapped in a cage in Sunagawa, Japan. (Reuters)
Japan’s Environment Ministry has urged residents to avoid forest edges, secure trash and food waste and immediately report bear sightings. Officials describe the situation as a wildlife management crisis and not a war on bears, but for fearful residents in the north of the country the threat feels alarmingly close.
Reuters contributed to this report.
