- Japan has confirmed its first fatal bear attack of 2026, following an unprecedented 13 casualties last year.
- A 55-year-old woman found dead in Iwate prefecture last month was officially confirmed to have been killed by a bear.
- Two other bodies discovered in Iwate and Yamagata prefectures in May are also suspected to be linked to bear attacks.
- Experts attribute the surge in dangerous bear encounters to a growing bear population, climate-related food changes, rural depopulation, and abandoned farmland, pushing bears closer to human settlements.
- In response to increased sightings, Japan deployed its military to Akita prefecture last year, and the Japan Tourism Agency is subsidising protective fences for open-air baths.
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