Spike in bear intrusions across northern Japan prompts public safety concerns

A bear intrusion at a shopping mall in Akita Prefecture on 16 November has drawn renewed attention to a surge in bear-related incidents across northern Japan.

The incident, which occurred at around 11:20 a.m. at the Aeon Noshiro store in central Noshiro city, led to an emergency response and partial evacuation of the premises.

According to reports from Yomiuri Shimbun, the animal, measuring approximately 80 centimetres in length, entered the building through the north-eastern entrance and moved towards the furniture section. Employees quickly used store partitions to contain the bear, preventing further movement within the store.

Akita Prefectural officials arrived shortly after and subdued the animal using a blow dart with anaesthetic. Just before 2:00 p.m., the bear was euthanised via electric shock.

A food outlet manager on the building’s third floor stated that Aeon employees instructed him to evacuate customers. At the time, there were eight customers across three groups. “The atmosphere was tense. Fire shutters were lowered on the first floor, and guards patrolled with sasumata (restraining poles),” he recalled.

The Aeon Noshiro store is located roughly 750 metres northwest of JR Noshiro Station, within a dense urban area surrounded by the city hall, schools, and residential buildings. According to the Noshiro Police Station, a bear had already been sighted earlier that morning, before 8:00 a.m., at a nearby park.

Later that same day, a more severe incident occurred in Kazuno city, also in Akita Prefecture. At around 3:25 p.m., a call was made to emergency services reporting a body in a rice field in the Hanawa area. According to Kazuno Police, an elderly woman was found lying face-up with multiple injuries to her head and right hand, believed to be caused by an animal. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

While her identity and exact cause of death remain under investigation, police suspect a bear attack, based on the nature of the wounds and recent sightings in the region.

Earlier that morning in Fukushima Prefecture, a man in his 80s was attacked by a bear while working on a rural road in the town of Bandai.

The incident occurred around 8:05 a.m. as he and around 10 others were dismantling an electric fence. According to Inawashiro Police Station, the bear, estimated to be 1 metre in length, inflicted injuries to the man's head and right leg.

Meanwhile, in Niigata Prefecture, a young bear was found atop a tree in a residential area of Minamiuonuma city. The animal, approximately 50 centimetres long, was euthanised using a tranquilliser gun. No injuries were reported in that case.

In a separate development on 15 November, a possible bear attack was reported in Karumai town, Iwate Prefecture. There, a pet dog was found dead near a mountain home. Local police from the Ninohe Station have urged residents to remain alert and take precautions in the area.

The recent spate of bear encounters has heightened public concern in northern Japan, where food shortages in the wild and encroaching development are believed to be driving bears closer to populated areas.

According to environmental experts, increased bear activity during autumn and early winter is common due to preparation for hibernation. However, this season has seen an unusually high number of urban incursions, often ending in harm or death to both humans and animals.

Earlier in October, Japan's Environment Ministry has announced plans to intensify its response to a surge in bear attacks that have killed a record nine people so far this year, surpassing the previous high of five fatalities recorded in the 2023–24 fiscal year.

Speaking at a news conference on 23 October, newly appointed Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara described the situation as “a big problem, a serious problem”, and pledged tougher measures.

“We are committed to further strengthening various measures including securing and training government hunters and managing the bear population,” Ishihara said.