Japan has deployed troops to Akita Prefecture after a spike in bear attacks left residents terrified and local authorities overwhelmed.
Governor Kenta Suzuki requested military aid as more than 50 people have been attacked and four killed in Akita alone since May.
Soldiers will assist hunters by setting traps and handling bear carcasses but will not use firearms.
Across northern Japan, bears have increasingly appeared near homes, schools, and shops, with experts warning that 70% of incidents now occur in residential areas.