Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and others set up a box trap to capture bears in Kazuno, Akita prefecture, northern Japan Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.
Japan has sent troops to the northern Akita prefecture after a sharp rise in bear attacks left residents terrified. The move comes as encounters with brown and Asiatic black bears are being reported almost daily, with the animals roaming closer to homes, schools, and even train stations.
Bears on the Move Before Hibernation
As hibernation season approaches, hungry bears are venturing into human settlements in search of food. Some have been spotted near supermarkets, hot spring resorts, and orchards. Since April, over 100 people have been injured and at least 12 killed in bear attacks across Japan, according to the Environment Ministry.
Experts say the rise in bear activity stems from shrinking forest food sources and an expanding bear population. The government estimates there are now more than 54,000 bears in the country — a number that continues to grow.
Troops Join the Fight — Without Firearms
To tackle the crisis, the Defense Ministry and Akita Prefecture signed an agreement to deploy soldiers. The troops are helping set up box traps baited with food, transport local hunters, and dispose of dead bears.
Officials emphasized that soldiers will not use firearms to kill the animals. “Every day, bears intrude into residential areas, and their impact is expanding,” said Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fumitoshi Sato. “Responses to the bear problem are an urgent matter.”
The operation began in Kazuno city, a forested area where several attacks have occurred. Soldiers equipped with bear spray, net launchers, and protective gear were seen setting up traps near orchards.
“My Heart Is Broken,” Says Farmer
Local farmers are among the hardest hit. Takahiro Ikeda, an orchard owner in Kazuno, said bears devoured more than 200 of his apples ready for harvest. “My heart is broken,” he told NHK television.
Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki admitted that local authorities were “desperate” due to manpower shortages. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the military’s support is limited, as its main duty remains national defense. He added that no other prefectures have yet requested troop assistance.
Most Attacks Happen in Residential Areas
Akita, home to around 880,000 people, has reported more than 50 bear attacks since May, with at least four deaths. Many incidents occurred within residential zones.
Recently, an elderly woman was found dead in Yuzawa city after a suspected bear attack while mushroom hunting. Another woman was killed in Akita City while working on a farm. On Tuesday, a newspaper deliveryman was injured after being mauled by a bear in the same area.
On Wednesday, a woman in Akita city filmed two bears climbing a persimmon tree in her garden. She said the animals lingered for about 30 minutes and at one point seemed ready to enter her home.
Experts warn that once bears find food sources such as persimmon or chestnut trees near abandoned farms, they continue returning, increasing the risk to humans.
Aging Population Worsens Bear Crisis
Japan’s aging rural population is another factor behind the escalating bear attacks. With fewer young people in mountain regions, there are not enough hunters to manage the growing bear numbers.
Experts are urging the government to train police and local officials as “government hunters” to help control the population. “The bears are not endangered,” said one wildlife specialist. “They need culling to restore balance.”
Last week, the government formed a special task force to develop a national bear management plan by mid-November. The measures under consideration include population surveys, communication networks to issue bear alerts, and updated hunting laws.
Officials say that without stronger preventive efforts, Japan’s northern regions will continue to face the same threat — as bears keep crossing from the forests into human life.
