Self-Defense Forces deployed to Kazuno after spike in bear attacks

Japan has dispatched Self-Defense Forces personnel to aid local officials in the northern town of Kazuno following a sharp rise in bear attacks. Authorities say the incidents, which began increasing in April 2025, have resulted in 12 deaths and dozens of injuries nationwide.

Kazuno, a community of roughly 30,000 in Akita Prefecture, has seen an unusually high number of bear encounters. Residents have been advised to avoid forests, stay inside after dark and carry bells or other deterrents. Akita reported over 8,000 bear sightings this year — about six times previous levels — and roughly two-thirds of recent bear-related fatalities have occurred in Akita and neighbouring Iwate.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato described the situation as urgent, saying the rise in attacks and injuries requires immediate action to protect public safety. Local officials requested support from the Self-Defense Forces, which are now assisting with transporting, setting and monitoring box traps designed to capture problem animals.

Licensed hunters will handle culling operations, officials said. The Self-Defense Forces are providing logistical and operational support rather than carrying out the removals themselves.

Bears have increasingly appeared in urban settings, entering supermarkets, attacking people at bus stops and assaulting staff at hot spring resorts. Experts attribute the rise to multiple factors: expanding bear populations, climate-driven changes to natural food supplies and rural depopulation that has reduced the number of experienced hunters.

Japanese black bears, widespread across the main islands, can weigh up to about 130 kilograms, while brown bears in Hokkaido may reach around 400 kilograms. Japan previously mobilised military units for wildlife control and large-scale animal management, including deer operations and disease outbreaks, roughly a decade ago.

The military-backed operation in Kazuno aims to lower the risk to residents while ensuring captured bears are handled humanely. Officials say the episode highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict amid environmental and demographic change.