Hunt for a Bear In Japan after Attack
Residents in Akita’s northern region are gripped by fear after numerous assaults on individuals. Riot police and military forces have been deployed to assist.
On a chilly autumn morning in northern Japan’s Akita, the atmosphere was tense.
Commuters — some adorned with bells, others equipped with cans of repellent spray — cautiously navigated the leaf-strewn streets. Children were advised to remain indoors. Parks were cordoned off with yellow tape — “Do Not Enter!” — accompanied by a threatening silhouette. Troops were seen patrolling the nearby mountains, wielding shields and setting traps. Drones hovered above.
Akita was on high alert against a 400-pound, persimmon-loving adversary: the Asiatic black bear. This creature has been associated with over 50 attacks and four fatalities in the area this year, contributing to a nationwide increase in bear aggression that challenges Japan’s longstanding belief in living harmoniously with nature.
Bears have harmed elderly residents in Akita while they were taking out the trash and delivering newspapers. They have ambushed mushroom foragers and rice cultivators, invaded supermarkets, and been sighted on school premises. A widely shared video depicted an 82-year-old woman being attacked from behind during her morning stroll.
“When you cross the street in Akita now, you look right, you look left, and then you check for bears,” remarked Akihiro Suzuki, 65, a retired civil servant, as he headed to the library recently. “You can never be sure when a bear might appear.”
Akita Prefecture, with a population of approximately 880,000, is at the forefront of Japan’s bear crisis, which has infiltrated the national consciousness and prompted a comprehensive governmental response. Nationwide, nearly 200 individuals have been attacked by bears this year, resulting in 13 fatalities, a record high. Bears have been sighted in northern ski resorts and southern towns, as well as on the outskirts of major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto.
The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have recently issued travel advisories regarding bears in Japan.
Experts attribute the increase in bear attacks partly to climate change, as storms have devastated vegetation such as beech trees, which are vital for bears’ food supply. As a result, bears have become more daring in their search for food, often entering urban areas in search of leftovers.
Additionally, demographic shifts in Japan have worsened the situation. Previously, farming communities acted as barriers, keeping the mountains separate from more populated regions. However, with Japan’s population declining and aging, and many young people relocating to cities, some rural areas have become depopulated. Consequently, bears are encroaching on human habitats.
In Japan, where approximately 70 percent of the land consists of mountains and forests, bears are regarded as sacred creatures. In Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, which has also experienced an increase in bear attacks, the brown bear is honored as a deity coexisting with humans.
However, as public fear has escalated, concerns about tradition and conservation have taken a backseat. This month, the Japanese government dispatched troops to severely affected regions like Akita to assist in setting traps. Riot police have collaborated with the dwindling number of hunters to locate and eliminate bears. Drones, some of which emit barking dog sounds, have been deployed over parks. A well-known Japanese university has recently introduced a “Bear Encounter AI Prediction Map” to anticipate bear movements.
This fall, Japan revised its stringent gun laws to facilitate hunting in residential areas. In Tottori Prefecture, located in western Japan, a group of hunters recently convened to practice shooting a bear in case of an emergency. Two hunters, wielding fake rifles, focused on the “bear,” which turned out to be a government worker dressed in black and wearing a mask.
Encounters between humans and bears in Japan are expected to persist, particularly in the fall and spring when bears are most hungry, just before and after their hibernation periods.
The recent attacks have cast a gloomy shadow over the peak season for fall foliage, a time when the region’s vibrant maple trees and golden forests usually attract throngs of carefree visitors eager to snap selfies.
“People have to go about their daily lives in uncertainty, not knowing when they or their loved ones might face an attack,” remarked Maki Koyama, 50, who is employed at a cultural center in Akita. “The current atmosphere is filled with fear and confusion.”
The government’s initiative to eliminate bears — involving the use of live traps that resemble steel cages followed by shooting — has raised concerns among traditional hunters known as matagi. These hunters adhere to rituals intended to return the spirits of the bears to the heavens. In Akita, bear meat is a local delicacy served in hot pot restaurants, and bear parts were historically sold for medicinal purposes.
“Both we and the bears are facing difficulties,” stated Hideo Suzuki, 78, a matagi hunter from Akita. “I feel pity for the bears.”
The number of hunters in Akita has significantly decreased over the past few decades, leading to an increase in the bear population. Mr. Suzuki’s group once boasted hundreds of hunters; now, it has dwindled to about three dozen. He noted that attracting young hunters has become challenging as rural areas continue to depopulate.
“There’s nothing for young people to do here,” he explained, “so there’s no incentive for them to come.”
The recent arrival of reinforcements in Akita aims to restore a sense of safety and tranquility. Bears have been a prominent topic in national news; television networks frequently air safety videos detailing how to respond in the event of an encounter.
Survivors of bear attacks are also voicing their concerns, calling for a strong response. Keiji Minatoya, who owns a confectionery shop in Akita, was attacked by a bear in his garage two years ago. The bear bit off a portion of his earlobe; when he looked in the mirror, he could see part of his skull. That same day, the bear attacked four other individuals in his neighborhood.
Mr. Minatoya, who continues to experience some numbness and tingling in his head along with a scar on his face, described the culling of bears as a “necessary evil.” He expressed a desire to kill and consume the bear that attacked him.
“They’re more aggressive than I anticipated, and remarkably strong for their size,” he remarked. “They’re incredibly fast, powerful, and aggressive.”
In Akita, local business owners have noticed a drop in foot traffic, as they claim that people are too frightened to venture out. While tourists are still visiting the area, they are either shortening their itineraries or opting to stay indoors.
“It’s not worth the risk of being eaten,” stated Teresa Liu, a visitor from Taiwan.
Senshu Park, famous for its cherry trees and cypress trees, has faced repeated closures this fall due to bear sightings. Traps have been installed in the park, and workers have utilized drones to search for bears overhead.
Just around the corner, Rumi Uematsu, 55, runs a toy store and after-school program. She is concerned about how the bear crisis is affecting young children, who have already faced the challenges of the Covid-19 restrictions.
“They have finally regained their freedom,” Ms. Uematsu noted, “and now they have to cope with anxiety once more.”
Last month, Ms. Uematsu was startled awake one night by the growl of a bear outside her home. She cautiously opened her window, but the bear had vanished.
“We need to devise new countermeasures,” she said. “At this moment, all we can do is implement emergency measures and hope.”
