Overview

• In Akita’s Odate on Sept. 23, an 80-year-old woman walking alone suffered serious facial injuries, including a broken nose, in a suspected cub attack, and the prefecture issued a Tsukinowaguma appearance warning for all of Akita.
• In Gunma’s Minakami on Sept. 22, a 77-year-old man picking chestnuts was scratched from behind and treated for minor injuries, with police patrolling after a bear was spotted near JR Gokan Station shortly after.
• In Nagano’s Okuwa on Sept. 22, a man in his 60s doing logging work sustained head and leg injuries, was airlifted to a hospital, and was reported to be in stable condition.
• Authorities reported that the bears in these incidents fled and were not immediately captured, and police and local groups increased patrols in the affected areas.
• Hokkaido’s hunters’ association began weekend trail outreach with Sapporo City at Jozankei through early October, urging visitor caution after a fatal brown bear attack in the region this summer.