Japanese Region Sounds the Alarm Over Record Bear Attacks

Japan is facing a record-breaking surge in deadly bear attacks, prompting urgent calls for military assistance to protect citizens.

Ten people have already been killed this year — the highest toll ever recorded — as bears increasingly wander into towns and villages in search of food.

Experts attribute the spike to a combination of climate change, food shortages like the decline of acorns, and Japan’s shrinking, aging rural population, which has left fewer hunters to keep the animals at bay.

Akita’s governor, Kenta Suzuki, described the situation as “truly dire,” warning that attacks often target the neck and face.

He appealed directly to Japan’s Self-Defense Forces for intervention, saying that without their help, local authorities cannot guarantee safety.

Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara echoed the alarm, calling the crisis a “serious problem” and pledging new measures to train hunters and better manage bear populations.

The attacks have become more frequent and unpredictable — with bears entering shops, schools, and parks — as warmer weather disrupts their hibernation cycles.

For a country known for its coexistence with nature, this wave of violence underscores how climate change is reshaping even its most familiar ecosystems.