Newsfrom Japan
Oct 24, 2025 22:18 (JST)
Higashinaruse, Akita Pref., Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)–A bear attack in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Akita left one man dead and three others injured on Friday.
At around 11:10 a.m., an emergency call was made reporting that a person had been attacked by a bear in the Tagonai district of the village of Higashinaruse.
According to police and other sources, four people suffered injuries to their faces and heads and were taken to a hospital. Yoshiyuki Sasaki, 38, one of the four, was left unconscious after the attack and was confirmed dead around 4:20 p.m. The remaining three are conscious, but all are said to be seriously injured.
Village officials and others said a bear was culled near the scene at around 1:20 p.m. The adult female, about 1.2 meters long and with bloodstains on its claws, is believed to have attacked the four individuals.
According to local police, Sasaki is thought to have been attacked by the bear after hearing screams and going to the site. His father, 65, who rushed to the scene afterward, and a couple aged 76 and 72 were also attacked. The four were found lying near a car owned by the couple.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]