Japan's government has intensified measures against a surge in bear attacks, including consideration of police rifle use, following a record 12 fatalities since April. A ministerial meeting involving multiple agencies ordered emergency actions, while municipalities raise pay for hunters. Officials describe the situation as a serious threat to public safety.
On October 30, Japan's government held a ministerial meeting to strengthen measures against the rising bear attacks. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated, "An increasing number of bears have been entering residential areas in many regions this year ... leading to a rise in the number of casualties, with more diversity in the extent of damage and across a wider area. This is a serious situation that threatens the safety and security of the public." The meeting included ministers from environment, education, agriculture, internal affairs, transport, defense, and the National Public Safety Commission, expanding from the previous five agencies to eight.
According to the Environment Ministry, the 2025 fiscal year (starting April) has seen 12 deaths from bear attacks, double the previous record of six in fiscal 2023. Over 100 people have been injured since April, a new record. The government plans to renew measures by mid-November to cull bears entering residential areas more quickly. Consideration is also being given to allowing police to use rifles.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology prepared a summary of safety measures for commuting to school and on school premises, to be used by education boards nationwide. Education Minister Yohei Matsumoto said, "It is alarming that there have been cases that compromised the safety of children. We will work to ensure their safety."
Meanwhile, around 130 members of the Ground Self-Defense Force conducted drills with local hunters at a camp in Akita Prefecture. A law revised in September allows municipal governments to authorize hunters for emergency firearm use against bears in residential areas. Since then, eight such hunts have occurred in cities like Sendai, Toyama, and Sapporo.
To address the increased burden, municipalities are raising pay for licensed hunters. In Biei, Hokkaido, hourly wages rose to ¥4,000 from ¥1,500, and per-bear capture to ¥60,000 from ¥20,000. Iiyama, Nagano, increased daily allowances to ¥10,000 from ¥5,700. Imizu, Toyama, introduced ¥50,000 per bear, and Shibata, Niigata, raised daily pay to ¥8,000 from ¥5,000. Seven municipalities in Iwate are considering similar hikes. Yohei Sasaki, chair of the national hunters association, said, "Every hunter is risking their life when dealing with a bear. We hope that the amount of compensation will at least be standardized at the prefectural level."
In Yuzawa, Akita, Ryoei Kazuno, 75, secretary general of the Ogachi Hunting Association, captured a bear that had occupied a house for six days after attacking a man. He noted, "We are truly relieved that we managed to capture the bear. But it must be remembered that the burden on hunting association members will increase, as bears that have gotten larger ahead of hibernation may appear in inhabited areas." The national hunters group has 100,561 members as of fiscal 2024.
