At least 220 people in Japan faced bear attacks, including fatal cases and injuries, across 21 of the country’s 47 prefectures since April, according to NHK World. Notably, the previous highest figure of such cases was 219, recorded in fiscal 2023.
According to Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, 13 people were killed in bear encounters over the period, marking the highest on record, with five deaths in Iwate, four in Akita, two in Hokkaido and one each in Nagano and Miyagi prefectures.
The media outlet noted that a scarcity of acorns and beechnuts — the animals’ primary food source — prompted the bears to search for food in residential areas.
Earlier this November, Japan deployed its Self-Defense Forces to Akita to address the issue of bear attacks in the region.
In October, media reported on bear attacks in a supermarket in Gunma Prefecture, which left two people injured, as well as a fatal attack in Iwate.
