Bear Attacks Surge as Fatality Rate Reaches 24%
Autumn is considered the most dangerous season in Japan for bear encounters, as bears become highly active in search of food before winter hibernation. Japan is home to two bear species: the brown bear, known as *higuma*, found primarily in Hokkaido, and the Asiatic black bear, or *tsukinowaguma*, residing in Honshu and Shikoku.
A large brown bear can stand nearly three meters tall and possess enough strength to break a horse’s neck with a single blow. They are remarkably fast, capable of sprinting 100 meters in as little as six seconds. Black bears, while slightly slower, can cover the same distance in about eight seconds.
The danger posed by these bears varies significantly between species. The fatality rate for victims attacked by brown bears stands at 24 percent, compared with just 2.3 percent for black bear attacks.
Between April and August 2025, there were 69 reported bear-related injuries or fatalities—the same pace as two years prior, when an acorn shortage triggered the worst year on record for bear incidents.
According to the Environment Ministry, new areas of bear habitation have been confirmed in surveys since 2018. Bear populations have expanded across Japan, with the exception of Shikoku. Hokkaido’s brown bear population has more than doubled over the past 30 years, while black bears have expanded their range by approximately 1.4 times.
Today, Chiba Prefecture remains the only part of Honshu without wild bears, while the species is extinct in Kyushu.
This surge in bear numbers is closely linked to shifts in human society. In the early 20th century, widespread hunting targeting pelts and gallbladders—used in traditional medicine—threatened bear populations with extinction in some regions. However, after a new protection framework was introduced in 1999, combined with population decline and abandoned farmland providing more abundant food, bear populations rebounded rapidly.
As their habitats encroach closer to towns and villages, many bears have lost their natural fear of humans and begun to appear in residential areas as so-called “urban bears.”
Experts emphasize the need for both population management and deterrence measures to address this growing challenge. Mayumi Yokoyama, a professor at the University of Hyogo, highlights the importance of capturing not only bears that enter towns but also those living near homes to reduce overall numbers.
Simultaneously, managing food sources is critical. Persimmons, garbage, and other attractants must be controlled, and electric fences should be installed around farmland to deter bears.
In 2024, the government removed bears from its list of protected species and reclassified them as managed wildlife, alongside deer and wild boar. This change allows for more aggressive population control through concentrated hunting. Since September, municipalities have also been authorized to permit the use of hunting rifles in urban areas.
Bears have long been familiar figures in Japanese folklore, from legends of Kintaro wrestling a bear to tales of coexistence with nature. However, the growing frequency of bear encounters today highlights the urgent need for modern solutions.
As experts warn, only by combining careful population management with preventive measures can people and bears continue to coexist safely in today’s Japan.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146950.php
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