Overview

• The man was attacked from behind around 5:40–5:45 a.m. near Kumano Shrine in the Maniwa area, suffering minor scratches to his lower back and buttocks.
• Police said the bear, about one meter long, fled immediately after the attack and has not been captured.
• About 15 minutes after the report, the bear was sighted near JR Jōetsu Line’s Gokan Station roughly 1.6 kilometers north of the scene.
• The victim was transported to a hospital with minor injuries, according to Numata Police and local authorities.
• The area is a mix of rice fields, farmland, and scattered homes, and police have stepped up patrols as the prefecture urges caution during early morning or evening hours and early harvesting of fruit.