Attacks increase, Akita asks for Defense Forces support
The Japanese government has decided to intensify measures to deal with the recent wave of bear attacks affecting the country, while the number of victims has now reached record levels. In the current fiscal year, which began in April, twelve people have died – double the previous record of 2023 – with dozens injured, prompting the executive to also evaluate the use of rifles by the police.
During a ministerial meeting, government spokesman Minoru Kihara called the situation “a threat to citizens’ security” and announced emergency measures coordinated between eight ministries, including Defense for the first time. The Ministry of the Environment intends to include funds in the 2025 supplementary budget for the recruitment of hunters and the strengthening of policies for managing the number of mammal specimens, while the Ministry of Education has released guidelines for the safety of students along school routes.
The concern is particularly strong in Akita prefecture, in the north-east of the country, where encounters with bears are now commonplace. Governor Kenta Suzuki announced that he will ask for the support of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to contain the emergency, describing the situation as “extremely serious”. However, local media explain, the possibility of military intervention remains uncertain, as there is no clear legal framework that allows the SDF to participate in wildlife control. Since the beginning of April, Akita has recorded 47 injuries and two fatalities, more than 60% of the cases in October alone. Local authorities are installing additional traps, distributing anti-bear spray along school roads and promoting awareness campaigns so that residents report their presence and adopt prevention behaviors. According to national data, bears are present in 34 of the 47 Japanese prefectures, with a significant increase in sightings even in urban areas, a phenomenon that is turning into a real public safety emergency.
