A man in his 40s was injured after being scratched on the head and arms by a bear while walking his dog in Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture. The incident occurred around 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, and the man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Local police are urging residents to exercise caution.
On November 12, 2025, at around 6:15 a.m., a man in his 40s was walking his dog on the street in front of his house in Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture, when he encountered two bears believed to be a mother and her cub. According to the Iwate Police Station, the adult bear scratched the man's head and arms, causing injuries.
The man was taken to a hospital, where his wounds were determined not to be life-threatening. The incident took place in a mountainous area with scattered residences, and the two bears fled after the attack.
The local police station is urging nearby residents to exercise caution due to the presence of bears in the area. Such bear encounters have been reported more frequently in northern Japan, highlighting the need for vigilance in rural and forested regions.