Bear Attacks in Japan Have Caused 13 Deaths and Over 100 Injuries; Expert Says It's Like Living in a Wildlife Park

Incidents of wild bears appearing and attacking humans are becoming increasingly frequent in various parts of Japan. Since April this year, a total of 13 people nationwide have died from bear attacks, setting a new record. These bears have broken into homes, wandered near schools, and even rampaged through supermarkets, causing a pervasive atmosphere of fear in regions seriously affected by bear incidents.

According to an AFP report on the 8th, in Akita Prefecture—where recent bear attacks have been frequent—28-year-old hunter Sho Matsuhashi said as he walked through the forest with a knife in hand: “We hear news of people being attacked or injured by bears almost every day. It feels as if it’s happening to ourselves; it’s truly frightening.”

This year, the number of fatalities from bear attacks is double the previous record for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, and there are still five months remaining in this fiscal year. The number of injured is also about to set a record: in just six months up to September, the number has already exceeded 100.

Surge in Hungry Bears

Scientists state that the rapid increase in the bear population, combined with a poor acorn harvest this year, has resulted in some mountain regions becoming “overcrowded with bears.” The surge in hungry bears is the reason for the spike in bear attack incidents.

According to a recent report by the Japanese government, the number of brown bears in Japan has doubled over the past 30 years, now totaling around 12,000; while the population of Asian black bears on Honshu has also risen to 42,000. Naoki Onishi, a researcher at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, said that some mountainous areas have already become “overcrowded.” “Put simply, the number of bears has exceeded the carrying capacity of the mountains.”

Dr. Hajime Nakae, professor of emergency and critical care medicine at Akita University Hospital, said that the frequent appearance of bears makes him feel as though he is “living in a bear wildlife park.”

Years ago, startled bears might have attacked a person’s face before fleeing, but now “they rush at you from about 10 meters away, then pounce on you.” He said that if effective intervention measures are not taken, he expects incidents of bear-related injuries to increase and spread to other regions of Japan. “We are witnessing a disaster.”