PressAdda
Tokyo — A record rise in bear attacks in northern Japan this year has prompted Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki to seek military assistance. On Tuesday, Suzuki appealed to the Defense Minister, saying that it was “impossible to protect citizens’ lives without the support of the Self-Defense Forces.”
नेपालीमा पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुस्
According to official data, 10 people have died in bear attacks so far this year—surpassing the previous fiscal year’s record of six deaths, which ended in March 2024. Governor Suzuki stated, “Neck and facial attacks have become common, creating a horrifying situation.”
Bears are no longer confined to the mountains but have begun entering towns and residential areas. “The disruption to residents’ daily lives has reached an abnormal level,” warned Suzuki.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pledged that the government would use “all available authority and resources to restore safety.”
The Environment Ministry reported that the latest victim was attacked in a mountain village in Akita, where three others were also injured. Local media added that a woman was found dead in a rice field in Akita on Monday, while a man and his dog were attacked in Iwate.
Incidents of bears approaching tourists, stores, and schools have sharply increased across northern Japan. Experts attribute the surge to food shortages and climate change, which have driven bears closer to human settlements.
Japan is home to two bear species—the Asian black bear and the Hokkaido brown bear—some of which weigh up to 500 kilograms. Despite hundreds being culled annually, an aging population and fewer hunters have made control efforts difficult.
Last week, Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara described the bear attacks as “a serious national problem” and vowed to strengthen hunting safety, train more hunters, and enhance population management measures.
