Overview
- Revised rules took effect Thursday and riot police teams were launched in Akita and Iwate with rifles limited to emergency use when residents face immediate danger or hunters cannot respond.
- Officials and scientists cite a growing bear population, a poor acorn harvest, and rural depopulation as key drivers of the surge.
- Government figures report at least 13 people killed and more than 100 injured since April, with incidents increasingly occurring near homes, schools, and supermarkets.
- Self-Defense Forces personnel are assisting local authorities in Akita with traps and logistics but are not authorized to kill bears.
- The U.S. issued a wildlife alert for northern Japan, and local disruptions included a Sapporo park closure and a brief runway shutdown at Iwate Hanamaki Airport after a bear sighting.