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Japan has taken the unusual step of deploying military personnel to tackle a rising wave of bear attacks in the northern Akita prefecture. This surge in dangerous encounters, involving both brown bears and Asiatic black bears, has been troubling locals, with incidents reported almost every day as the bears scavenge for food ahead of hibernation. Bears have been spotted in areas rarely expected, including near schools, train stations, supermarkets, and even a popular hot springs resort. Since April, over 100 people have been injured and at least 12 have died nationwide in bear-related incidents, according to the Environment Ministry's statistics as of late October.
The problem is particularly acute in Akita, a region with a shrinking and aging population. With fewer people around — and even fewer trained hunters — the bears are increasingly wandering into residential zones. The government estimates that the bear population across Japan exceeds 54,000, a number that’s growing without effective controls. The Defense Ministry and Akita prefectural authorities recently signed an agreement to send soldiers to help set traps baited with food, assist local hunters in transportation, and handle the disposal of carcasses. However, military personnel have been explicitly instructed not to use firearms against the bears.
In Kazuno city, a hotspot for bear sightings and attacks, soldiers have begun operations wearing protective gear and armed with bear spray and net launchers. Their goal is to trap and contain the animals rather than directly hunt them. Local farmers like Takahiro Ikeda have suffered significant losses, with bears devouring hundreds of ripe apples from his orchard. He expressed his frustration and heartbreak over the damage, underscoring the economic impact the animals are causing.
Officials admit the situation is becoming desperate. Akita’s governor, Kenta Suzuki, highlighted the shortages in manpower to deal with the bear problem. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi noted that while the military's involvement aims to protect residents, the Self-Defense Forces remain primarily focused on national defense and cannot extend unlimited support. So far, only Akita has requested military aid.
Most attacks are now happening within residential neighborhoods, with vulnerable individuals at particular risk. Recently, an elderly woman hunting mushrooms was found dead in Yuzawa city, likely due to a bear attack. Another older woman was killed while working on a farm in Akita city, and a newspaper delivery man was injured nearby. It’s common for these bears to be drawn to abandoned homes and farmland rich with persimmon and chestnut trees, which provide easy food sources. Once they discover a reliable food supply, bears tend to return repeatedly.
Experts point to Japan’s demographic challenges as a key driver behind the problem. Rural areas are losing population, and many traditional hunters are aging or retiring without successors trained to manage the bear population. Bears are not considered endangered, and culling is seen as necessary to keep their numbers in check. There are calls for police and other officials to receive training as "government hunters" to assist in population control.
The government recently established a task force tasked with developing a comprehensive bear response plan by mid-November. Proposed measures include population surveys, improved communication systems for bear warnings, and revisions to hunting regulations. The Environment Ministry acknowledged that the lack of preventive policies in northern regions has contributed to the current crisis. As the hibernation season nears, authorities are working urgently to implement these measures and protect communities from further harm.
