Copyright Newsweek
Japan says it is dispatching its military after a spate of bear attacks, including one that left a woman dead last week. Why It Matters It was the 12th fatal bear attack of the year—the highest number on record since Japan began keeping statistics in the early 2000s, according to the Environment Ministry. The attacks, which have increasingly taken place in residential areas, underscore the growing risks of human activity encroaching on bear habitats. Newsweek reached out to Japan's Ministry of the Environment by email with a request for comment outside of regular office hours. What To Know On October 27, a 79-year-old woman was found dead near her home in northeastern Japan’s Akita Prefecture, on the island of Honshu, with facial injuries suggesting she had been mauled by a bear, according to local reports. Since April, there have been more than 100 bear attacks across the country, including the 12 that proved fatal—two-thirds of which occurred in Akita, Reuters reported, citing Environment Ministry data. Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara said Thursday the ministry would allocate additional funds for countermeasures, including licensed hunters to help cull bears. "The government must work firmly to combat bears. I feel a great sense of urgency," he stated. Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki last week requested assistance from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to help capture or drive away the animals, a Defense Ministry spokesperson told reporters on October 28. During a press briefing Tuesday, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the SDF would provide transportation support to Akita Prefecture and that preparations for deployment were complete. Japan is home to two bear species: the Ussuri brown bear, a subspecies of the Eurasian brown bear found only in Hokkaido, and the smaller Asian black bear, which inhabits the islands of Honshu and Shikoku. The effect of climate change on traditional bear food sources, a steep population decline in rural areas, and the decreasing number of hunters have been cited as factors driving the rise in bear encounters. What People Are Saying Kimihito Aguin, Japanese defense minister, said during a news conference Tuesday: "The primary mission of the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces is national defense. And while it's not possible to conduct unlimited bear-control operations, given that our duty is to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people, and taking into account the exceptional nature of this situation, we have decided to provide transport support in Akita Prefecture. "We will continue to coordinate closely with the prefectural and municipal governments and carry out whatever measures are necessary." Jeffrey Hall, a special lecturer in Japanese studies at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, wrote on X: "Japan has a growing bear problem, but isn't paying hunters enough. One local govt pays hunters $32 a year and $64 each time they successfully capture/kill a bear. If four hunters are dispatched, that's $16 per hunter. They have to pay for their own gas." What Happens Next Koizumi said the designated Self-Defense Forces units will assist in counter-operations as soon as municipalities where their presence is requested are ready.
