Japan's government has upgraded its bear attack response meetings from working-level to ministerial due to rising human injuries. The first such meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday, where Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara pledged enhanced extraordinary measures. Police and Self-Defense Forces will bolster support to address local personnel shortages.
Amid frequent bear attacks injuring people, Japan's government has heightened its response to avoid criticism for delays. On October 31, following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's directive, the first ministerial-level meeting on the issue was held at the Prime Minister's Office, upgrading from previous working-level gatherings. Officials from five ministries, including Environment, discussed mobilizing police and Self-Defense Forces for resident safety.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at the meeting, “To protect the lives and livelihoods of people, we will step up any additional extraordinary measures against bears attacks.” A senior government official noted, “This reflects the Prime Minister’s sense of crisis as the situation is threatening people’s daily lives.” Newly joining ministries include Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Defense; and Internal Affairs and Communications, responding to escalating injuries.
A key challenge is expanding personnel for bear capture and culling. Kihara requested police to use rifles for “emergency hunting with guns” in urban areas, with police advancing training, knowledge acquisition, and equipment preparation. However, the Self-Defense Forces face firearm restrictions under the SDF Law. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, “The SDF’s primary mission is national defense. We cannot implement unrestricted measures against bear attacks.”
In response to Akita Prefecture's request, the SDF will support by setting box traps and transporting culled bears, under Article 100 of the SDF Law for civil engineering work. They have prior experience transporting Yezo sika deer in Hokkaido. On the same day, about 130 Ground Self-Defense Force personnel conducted drills at Camp Akita in Akita City with local hunters. They received explanations on bear ecology, box trap structures from hunting associations and prefectural officials, and learned to use deterrent spray and adopt defensive stances.
SDF involvement is limited to logistical support like transport and trap setup due to laws lacking provisions for wildlife extermination; activities are framed as drills. The Environment Ministry plans intermediate-term capture based on scientific data, with next fiscal year's budget proposal including training for “government hunters”—public officials with hunting licenses—and deterrence using technologies like drones. With high Cabinet approval ratings, mishandling this crisis could provide opposition fodder, so the government aims for meticulous planning.