Japan has recorded a historic high in bear-related fatalities this year, with seven people losing their lives since April. This grim figure surpasses the previous record set in the year ending April 2024, which saw five deaths. In addition to the fatalities, approximately 100 individuals have sustained injuries in bear encounters so far this year, an increase from the previous 12-month period that recorded 85 injuries and three deaths.
The most recent suspected attack involved a 60-year-old man who went missing while cleaning an outdoor hot spring bath. Investigators discovered human blood and bear fur at the scene, indicating a likely encounter.
Bear activity typically intensifies in the autumn as animals prepare for hibernation. Experts suggest that a decline in natural food sources, such as beech nuts, due to climate change may be forcing bears into residential areas in search of sustenance. Societal factors like depopulation, which can lead to less human presence in rural areas and closer proximity to bear habitats, are also believed to play a role.
Incidents have occurred across various regions, with a notable concentration in northeastern Japan and the northern island of Hokkaido. In one alarming event in Numata, Gunma, an adult bear entered a supermarket, causing minor injuries to two men. The store manager reported that the bear became agitated while trying to find its way out amidst the presence of 30 to 40 customers.
Another attack involved a farmer in the Iwate region who was injured by a bear accompanied by a cub. Earlier this month, a Spanish tourist was also targeted by a bear at a bus stop in Shirakawa-go, a village in central Japan.
Japan is home to two main bear species: Asian black bears and the larger brown bears, predominantly found in Hokkaido.