Akita Governor Seeks SDF Help as Bear Attacks Reach Record Levels in Japan

Overview

• Governor Kenta Suzuki formally asked Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to deploy the Self-Defense Forces to protect residents in Akita Prefecture.
• Koizumi, newly appointed to the post, said the government will make the best use of its capabilities and authority to support local response efforts.
• Akita has logged 54 bear attacks in 2025, up from 11 last year, according to official figures.
• Nationwide, a Ministry of the Environment official confirmed 10 fatalities this year, and recent incidents include one death and three injuries in a mountain village in Akita.
• Authorities are weighing controlled culling and tighter coordination with the Defense Ministry, while advising residents to secure food waste as bears increasingly enter towns, shops, and areas near schools and parks.