Overview
- National Police Agency officials met Iwate authorities on Nov. 5 for closed-door consultations, with a senior official saying they aim to allow officers to use rifles in support of municipal emergency hunts.
- Following field hearings in Akita and Iwate, the agency labeled the situation an emergency and is preparing to deploy, potentially with units from other prefectures, starting in mid-November.
- Police intend to act in a complementary role to mayor-authorized emergency culls, with use of service rifles considered under the Police Duties Execution Act.
- Operational details—including target selection, training needs, procedures, and legal application—remain under review, while non-lethal measures such as traffic control, evacuation guidance, and public alerts will continue.
- Iwate has reported five deaths this fiscal year, 4,524 sightings by late September, and 714 bears captured, underscoring strained local hunting capacity that the environment minister says supports police involvement.