IWATE, Oct 30 (News On Japan) - Bear attacks are reaching unprecedented levels across Japan, with a record 12 fatalities so far this year as sightings continue daily from mountain towns to city centers, disrupting schools and local institutions.
In the town of Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, a security camera captured a bear tugging at the entrance of a public hall early Thursday morning before walking away. The frame of the glass door was found broken, with visible impact marks.
“It would have been extremely dangerous if the hall had been open,” said Shizukuishi town official Osamu Tanizaki.
On the previous day, a bear rammed into the entrance of an elementary school in Yamagata Prefecture early in the morning, shattering the glass and forcing the school to close for the day. Another elementary school in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, also canceled classes on October 30th after bear sightings were reported nearby.
In Morioka City, a bear entered the parking lot of Iwate Bank’s head office earlier this week. The same day and the following day, bears were also seen on the campus of Iwate University, about two kilometers away. The university suspended classes temporarily but resumed them on October 31st.
Students expressed fear following the incidents. “It was shocking and frightening,” one student said. Another added, “It’s scary because it’s happening in the city, not near the mountains.”
When university officials inspected the campus on Thursday morning, they found bear droppings and food remnants, confirming the animal’s presence. “There’s no mistake—it was here,” said Takayoshi Yamauchi, associate professor at the university’s Faculty of Agriculture.
Nearby elementary schools have also stepped up precautions. Some children now carry bear bells on their backpacks, and parents are driving them to school for safety. “They haven’t caught the bear yet, so I’m still worried,” said one parent.
According to the Environment Ministry, the number of deaths caused by bears this fiscal year has risen to 12, marking the highest figure ever recorded in Japan.
Source: TBS
