Japan has deployed military personnel to the country’s northern mountains after an alarming rise in bear attacks left a record 12 people dead and communities demanding urgent help.
The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) began operations Wednesday in Kazuno, a small town in Akita prefecture, where locals say they are overwhelmed by the growing threat. Soldiers equipped with protective gear, bear spray, and steel traps joined local officials to capture the animals that have been terrorizing residents for months.
“Even if just temporary, the SDF’s help is a big relief,” said Yasuhiro Kitakata, who heads the town’s bear management department. “I used to think bears would always run away when they heard noise, but now they actually come toward you. They’re truly frightening animals.”
According to Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, more than 100 bear attacks have been reported since April, the highest number in decades. Most of the fatalities occurred in Akita and neighboring Iwate, where sightings have surged to unprecedented levels.
Local authorities say Akita alone has recorded over 8,000 bear sightings this year, six times higher than in 2023, forcing residents to stay indoors at night and avoid wooded areas. The spike prompted Akita’s governor to request military assistance last week.
“The townspeople feel the danger every day,” said Kazuno Mayor Shinji Sasamoto, after greeting about 15 soldiers who arrived in armored trucks and jeeps. “It has affected how people live their lives, forcing them to stop going out or cancel events.”
The soldiers’ mission includes transporting and inspecting steel-barred traps used to capture bears before trained hunters cull them. On a mountain road outside Kazuno, troops received on-site training from forestry officers on how to load and deploy the traps safely.
Residents say the growing number of encounters has left many too scared to leave their homes. “I thought maybe something was on fire,” said one woman who saw the soldiers setting up traps near her house. “We all try not to encounter the bears, but we keep hearing about people getting attacked.”
Kazuno, a town of roughly 30,000 known for its scenic hot springs and apple orchards, will be the first of several locations to receive SDF assistance under an agreement running until the end of November. Troops will next move to Odate and Kitaakita as authorities race to prevent further casualties.
Officials say a combination of food shortages in the mountains and warmer weather has driven more bears into populated areas in search of food — a worrying trend that shows no sign of slowing.
