Japan Faces Record Bear Attacks in 2025 as Population Surges

Japan is grappling with an unprecedented surge in bear attacks in 2025, with 13 fatalities recorded since April and over 100 people injured. The attacks, which have spread from remote forests into towns, homes, and even supermarkets, reflect a combination of a booming bear population and food scarcity caused by a poor acorn harvest.

Residents in northern Japan are taking unusual precautions, including attaching bells to bags to warn bears, while official warnings have been posted across affected regions. Local hunter Kakeru Matsuhashi described the situation as “frightening” due to the frequent attacks.

The Akita prefecture has emerged as a hotspot, with past incidents such as a 2023 attack where a bear leapt from a garage and bit 68-year-old Keiji Minatoya. Authorities have deployed troops to assist in trapping and hunting bears, while riot police are now allowed to use rifles.

Experts attribute the crisis to a rapid increase in bear populations over recent decades. Japan’s brown bears have doubled to around 12,000, while Asian black bears on Honshu island now number approximately 42,000. Coupled with bad acorn harvests and rural depopulation, these conditions have pushed bears closer to human settlements.

Dr. Hajime Nakae from Akita University Hospital, who treats bear injuries, warned that bears are now charging humans aggressively, indicating a shift in behavior due to frequent human contact. Researchers stress that “thorough culling” is essential to reduce risks, but the declining number of hunters complicates containment efforts.

The government’s population control measures have helped reduce numbers temporarily, with over 4,200 bears culled between April and September 2025. Akita alone accounted for over 1,000 of these. Experts expect relief during the upcoming hibernation season, though the risk may resurface next year if populations continue to rise unchecked.

Japan’s escalating bear crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated wildlife management and public safety measures, balancing ecological preservation with human protection.