Bear attacks have resulted in 27 people being injured or killed in nine prefectures in Japan this fiscal year. The Ministry of the Environment confirmed that four victims lost their lives due to bear attacks. Fukushima had the highest casualties at eight, followed by Akita with five, Iwate with four, and Yamagata and Toyama with three each. Tokyo, Niigata, Hokkaido, and Miyagi each had one victim.
At least 11 of the 27 victims were attacked in human living areas such as urban districts, farmland, and near their homes. Recently, four individuals were injured in bear attacks in Fukushima City. In Akita Prefecture, an elderly woman in her 80s encountered a bear in front of her home, sustaining injuries. Another woman in Iwate Prefecture was attacked by a bear in a mountainous area, resulting in injuries to her face and shoulder.
Furthermore, nine people, including three fatalities, were attacked while gathering wild edible plants in forests or mountainous regions. Bear sightings in urban areas have raised public concern. Authorities tranquilized a 100 kg bear in Utsunomiya City after repeated sightings, leading to the temporary closure of schools. Another bear was captured near Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture. To prevent bear attacks, the Ministry of the Environment advises carrying radios or bear bells, traveling in groups, making loud noises in low-visibility areas, avoiding leaving food waste, and staying updated on bear sighting information.
