Japan is experiencing its highest number of bear attacks on record, prompting regional authorities to seek military assistance and increase incentives for local hunters. Officials and media outlets are characterizing the situation as the country’s most severe wildlife crisis in decades.
Data indicates that at least 12 individuals have been killed and over 100 injured nationwide this year, primarily in northern prefectures like Akita, Iwate, and Fukushima. Bears have been sighted near residences, schools, and shopping districts, leading to temporary lockdowns in rural communities.
In late October, Akita Governor Norihisa Satake officially requested support from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) after local authorities were overwhelmed by repeated maulings. The military’s involvement is strictly non-combat, focusing on logistical tasks such as transporting carcasses, deploying traps, and patrolling forested areas where bears have been observed.
Defense officials have clarified that only licensed hunters, not soldiers, are authorized to shoot bears that pose an immediate threat.
Japan’s hunter population has been declining for years, with approximately 60% of licensed hunters now aged over 60. Many traditional matagi bear trackers from northern Japan have retired, leaving rural areas with fewer people to respond to emergencies. To address this shortage, local governments in Akita, Niigata, and Hokkaido have increased subsidies, training stipends, and bounties for each bear to attract new recruits.
Experts attribute this surge to a combination of poor acorn and beech nut harvests, milder winters that delay hibernation, and rural depopulation, which leaves farmlands and buffer zones between forests and towns unmanaged.
The increase in encounters has also reignited a national discussion on how to balance conservation efforts with public safety. Bears have long been revered in Japanese folklore and rural culture, symbolizing strength and endurance. However, as attacks rise, local residents are demanding stricter control measures, while environmental groups advocate for humane solutions and improved forest management over widespread culling.
Japan’s Environment Ministry has urged residents to exercise caution, secure garbage and food waste, and report bear sightings without delay. Officials describe the situation as a wildlife management crisis, not a war on bears, but for frightened residents in the country’s north, the threat feels alarmingly similar to one.
This report includes contributions from Reuters.