According to Japan's Environment Ministry, asian black bear sightings from April to November 2025 totaled 47,038, the highest since comparable data began in fiscal 2009. This figure nearly doubled the previous annual record of 24,348 set in fiscal 2023. Captures, including brown bears, reached a record 12,659, with urban sightings likely driving the rise in removals.
Japan's Environment Ministry reported that asian black bear sightings from April to November 2025 reached 47,038, the highest figure since comparable records began in fiscal 2009. This marked nearly double the previous annual record of 24,348 set in fiscal 2023. The number of captured bears, including brown bears, hit a record 12,659 by the end of November, surpassing 10,000 for the first time.
By prefecture, Akita saw the most sightings at 13,172, followed by Iwate with 9,270, Niigata at 3,265, and Miyagi at 3,056. Akita also led in captures for damage prevention and population control with 2,564 bears. The Tohoku region, which includes Akita, accounted for about 65% of all captures nationwide.
The ministry attributes the increase in removals to a rise in urban-area sightings. Between the launch of an emergency culling scheme in September 2025 and year-end, there were 54 instances where municipalities authorized hunters to shoot bears posing risks to people in populated areas. This trend underscores growing human-wildlife conflicts in Japan.
