Overview
- Sapporo confirmed clustered reports late on Nov. 13 in Minami Ward, including a call that a bear walked toward a road leading to Fujinosawa Elementary and tracks found in nearby forest.
- Two Sapporo elementary schools closed on Nov. 14, with Fujinosawa shutting after the confirmed signs and Moiwa-Kita closing as a precaution where investigators later judged the likelihood of a bear to be low.
- On Nov. 15 in Esashi, a driver reported a bear crossing a national road around 8:10 a.m., prompting a call to the Esashi police.
- Also on Nov. 15 in Matsumae, a resident found feces and footprints in a residential plot in the Eura area and notified police, with no crop damage reported.
- A Mainichi survey identified at least 62 schools nationwide accounting for 84 lost school-days in 2025, led by Hokkaido’s 30 schools, as officials note uneven data tracking and schools curb outdoor activities or shift to remote learning during closures.