Japan: Japan is preparing to bring in licensed hunters to cull bears after a surge in attacks across the country triggered growing public alarm. The government will allocate funds to hire hunters and specialist teams to respond to bears entering towns and villages, as officials warn that the threat to residents has become urgent.
The decision followed a high-level meeting in Tokyo this week, where ministers reviewed the sharp rise in bear encounters. Twelve people have died in attacks this year, and more than 100 have been injured. Victims include a newspaper delivery worker in Hokkaido and a man found dead in his garden in Iwate prefecture.
Authorities say bears have been spotted entering schools, supermarkets, and private homes, with residents in some rural areas increasingly afraid to move about freely.
The environment ministry is also considering allowing police officers to use rifles against bears in extreme situations. Officials are expected to finalise the full set of measures by mid-November. Currently, only licensed hunters can shoot bears, and the rapid decline in hunter numbers is making response efforts harder.
Japan has two species of bears, the Japanese black bear found on the main island of Honshu and the larger brown bear in Hokkaido. Both have been reported entering populated zones, often in search of food.
Akita prefecture, one of the worst-affected areas, has seen repeated intrusions and injuries. This week, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces were ordered to help local authorities track and remove bears, although troops are not permitted to shoot the animals. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi warned that communities were under real threat, while Akita’s governor said those working on the ground were stretched and exhausted.
Experts link the rising encounters to shrinking food sources in the mountains, particularly poor harvests of beech nuts due to climate change. As natural supplies drop, hungry bears are increasingly drawn towards towns. Declining rural populations and fewer hunters have also reduced deterrence in regions once better protected. Japan relaxed gun use rules in September to make it easier to deal with bears in residential areas.
