TOKYO - A bear cub charged toward a family standing outside their home in Ome, western Tokyo, on November 3rd, rushing straight toward the front door moments after a high-pitched cry was heard from nearby bushes, in an encounter that left the resident shaken.
The incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. on November 3rd and was captured on video by a man standing outside his home. The footage shows a bear suddenly emerging from vegetation in front of the property and running directly toward the entrance, where members of the man's family were gathered.
The man hurriedly closed the door as the animal approached, narrowly avoiding a direct encounter.
"I definitely felt frightened," the man said. "We had been hearing reports about bears in the area and had been taking precautions, but this made me realize that you really can come face to face with one."
According to the man, the animal was a bear cub measuring approximately 50 centimeters in length.
Shortly before the encounter, he had spotted an adult bear believed to be the cub's mother near his home. Concerned about the animal's presence, he had begun filming while remaining on alert when the cub suddenly emerged from the bushes and rushed toward him.
The incident comes as bear sightings continue to increase in western Tokyo, raising concerns about encounters near residential areas.
In neighboring Akiruno, which borders Ome, authorities have received 11 reports of bear sightings since October, more than double the number recorded during the same period in 2025.
Following the series of sightings, the Akiruno city government has urged residents to remain vigilant and take precautions against unexpected encounters with bears.
Source: FNN
On a lighter note, here is the pilot of a fictional story about a mystical village in Japan where bears and humans live in harmony.
