Why Bear Attacks Increasing Across Japan?
According to preliminary data from the Environment Ministry, bear-related incidents have occurred mainly in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, but also in Tokyo and western Japan.
**Incident Statistics**
– 2023: 219 victims (6 deaths)
– 2024: 85 victims (3 deaths)
– 2025 (as of October): 109 victims (6 deaths)
The number of victims in the first half of fiscal 2025 has already surpassed the total for 2024, and fatalities have reached the same level as the record year of 2023.
Bears, which naturally fear humans, are now appearing even in urban neighborhoods. Nao Ikushima, a reporter operating the HBC wildlife monitoring site Kuma Koko, explained that this phenomenon is not solely due to a rise in bear numbers. In many regions, changes in human society play a major role.
She noted that bears are not invading towns to attack people; instead, human activity patterns have changed. Depopulation has led to the disappearance of fields and gardens that once separated forests and homes. The reduction of human presence has consequently brought the forest edge closer to residential areas.
Ikushima added that green corridors such as riverbanks and vacant lots now connect forests directly to urban zones, making it easier for bears to stray into human spaces. “People who believe bears don’t appear in their region anymore need to recognize that this is no longer an era where that can be taken for granted,” she said.
Broadcaster Takahiro Inoue mentioned that municipalities and hunting associations are now attaching GPS collars to bears to study their movements. Meanwhile, commentator Daimao Kosaka emphasized the need to maintain balance.
“In the past, buffer zones called *sato* helped separate humans and wildlife,” Kosaka explained. “We shouldn’t overreact by hunting excessively, but calmly prioritize human safety while managing encounters responsibly.”
Nationwide, sightings and attacks have expanded beyond Hokkaido. In the Osaka area, data comparing the periods 2007–2011 and 2020–2024 shows both a broader range of sightings and a sharp increase in cases involving the Asian black bear.
Ikushima stressed that fear alone is counterproductive. “Many people are frightened because they don’t know much about bears,” she said. “Understanding their behavior allows us to fear them appropriately and prevent accidents.”
She emphasized that because the causes of bear encounters lie in human society, so do the solutions. Countermeasures vary depending on each community’s circumstances.
– If garbage attracts bears, remove the source.
– If fields draw them in, install electric fencing.
– If green corridors connect to neighborhoods, mow vegetation.
At the same time, residents’ preferences must be respected—for instance, preserving greenery while keeping routes like school paths safe.
Ikushima concluded, “Communities need to decide what kind of town they want to live in, and choose bear-management strategies accordingly, through dialogue between residents and local governments.”
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147221.php
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