Bear Attacks in Japan Reach Record High, Government Faces Pressure to Intervene

In Japan, a record 230 people have been killed or injured by bears since April, exceeding the previous record of 219 for the fiscal year. The majority of casualties occurred in the northern Tohoku region, where bears are venturing beyond their forest habitats due to abandoned farmland and aging communities. The government has set aside ¥3.4 billion for bear countermeasures, including mobilizing retired police and self-defense forces as armed hunters, and providing subsidies for traps and bear-monitoring drones.