A record 230 were killed or injured by bears in Japan since April, putting more pressure on the government to intervene as the animals push deeper into areas where people live.
Thirteen have died and 217 were injured as a result of bear attacks in the eight months through end-November, according to data released Friday by the environment ministry. The total already exceeds the previous record of 219 for the fiscal year through March 2024. Roughly two-thirds of casualties occurred in the sparsely-populated northern Tohoku region.
Japan is home to the Hokkaido brown bear and the smaller Asiatic black bear, with the latter responsible for 97% of human casualties this year. As abandoned farmland and aging communities reduce human presence in mountain areas, bears are venturing beyond their forested habitats and moving closer to towns in search of food.
There were 36,814 bear sightings nationwide from April to October 2025, almost double the total from the prior fiscal year, according to ministry data. Even Tokyo had 142 sightings during that period.
The population decline also means there are fewer hunters able to keep bear numbers in check, exacerbating the issue.
The environment ministry has set aside ¥3.4 billion ($22 million) for “bear countermeasures” in this year’s supplementary budget, approved by the cabinet last month. The proposed measures include mobilizing retired police and self-defense forces as armed hunters, and providing subsidies to local governments for traps and bear-monitoring drones.
Japanese makers of hunting rifles and bear-repellent products have seen their stocks rally in recent months as attacks increase. Bear spray seller Tiemco’s shares have gained 33% since the end of August, with rifle manufacturer Miroku rising 16%, both outpacing the Topix Index. The nation’s insurers have also begun offering new products that cover bear-related damages.