The number of people killed by bears in Japan this year has reached a record high, the country's environment ministry has reported.
Seven individuals have died since April, indicating a troubling trend, as it marks the highest number of fatalities since data collection began in 2006. Most incidents have occurred in northeastern regions and the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.
Recently, a 60-year-old man cleaning at an outdoor hot spring was reported missing, possibly becoming another victim of this alarming trend.
Bear attacks typically rise in the autumn as these animals prepare to hibernate. Experts suggest that a decline in beech nut yields—attributable to climate change—may have pushed these hungry bears into residential areas. Additionally, depopulation in rural areas potentially increases bear encounters with humans.
The environmental ministry's statistics show that the seven fatalities already surpass the five recorded in the preceding year. Alongside the fatalities, roughly 100 individuals have reported injuries from bear encounters, a rise from 85 injuries and three deaths reported in the prior twelve months.
Notably, investigators recovered human blood and bear fur at the scene of the latest suspected attack in Kitakami, Iwate prefecture. This incident follows the confirmation that a man found dead last week in Iwate was indeed killed by a bear.
A bear incident was also reported in Numata, Gunma—northern Tokyo’s vicinity—when a 1.4-meter adult bear wandered into a supermarket, mildly injuring two customers aged 60 and 70. The store is located near mountainous regions but had never before experienced close bear encounters.
Another alarming event involved a farmer in Iwate who sustained injuries from a bear while outside his home, accompanied by a cub. Earlier this month, a Spanish tourist was also attacked by a bear in Shirakawa-go.
Japan is home to two bear species: the Asian black bear and the larger brown bear predominantly found on Hokkaido.
