Japan Deploys Soldiers to Akita as Deadly Bear Attacks Surge

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Kyodo/picture alliance

Japan has begun deploying soldiers to Akita Prefecture in northern Japan following a surge in deadly bear attacks that have left residents gripped with fear. According to the Environment Ministry, there have been about 100 bear attacks nationwide since April, resulting in 12 deaths.

Akita has been the hardest hit, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the fatalities. Local authorities, overwhelmed by the growing number of incidents, appealed for support from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to help manage the crisis. Reports indicate more than 8,000 bear sightings in Akita this year, a six-fold increase compared to last year.

The first military operation began in the town of Kazuno, where residents have been urged to avoid forests and stay indoors after sunset. They are also encouraged to carry bells to deter bears wandering near homes in search of food. Soldiers, equipped with maps and protective gear, have been assigned to assist in setting and inspecting traps. Captured bears will be handled by trained hunters.

Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki and Self-Defense Force Commander Yasunori Matsunaga signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen the region’s bear attack prevention measures. “The townspeople feel the danger every day,” said Kazuno Mayor Shinji Sasamoto. “People have stopped going out, and community events are being canceled because of fear.”

Experts attribute the rise in encounters to climate change and rural depopulation, which are pushing wildlife closer to human settlements. A poor acorn harvest has further worsened the situation, forcing bears to venture into towns in search of food.

Japan is home to both black bears, which can weigh up to 130 kilograms, and the larger brown bears of Hokkaido, which can reach 400 kilograms. Authorities hope that with military assistance, the threat can be contained before more lives are lost.