In 2025, Japan experienced a record number of attacks by bears: 13 killed and 217 injured from April to November, according to the national Ministry of the Environment. Especially, officials of Japan and credible news sources, including the Japan Times, confirmed that there has been a rise in bear sightings in the Western Parts of Tokyo. Although Central Tokyo is safe currently, rural districts such as Okutama, Ome, Hinode, and Hachioji have experienced multiple sightings since the spring of 2025. Local authorities in such areas responded by posting warning signs and reinforcing patrols.
According to a Stars and Stripes article published in 2025, a man who was fishing in Okutama was injured by a bear attack. Furthermore, the article reported 70 bear sightings between April and July 2025 in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Even though these sightings were mostly from Western Tokyo, including areas such as Okutama, Hinohara village, Akiruno city, Ome city, Hachioji city and Hinode town, this research tells us that Tokyo is not safe from bear attacks, and people living in urban areas should also be aware. Outside of Tokyo, there were 36,814 bear sightings nationwide from April to October 2025, almost double the total from the prior year.
The NGO Japan Bear Network released a statement on October 6 titled “Summary of the Current Situation Regarding Bears in Autumn 2025.” The statement explained that even though bear attacks have traditionally been thought to occur to protect themselves or their cubs, this year there have been many cases where people were attacked even when moving in groups, as well as cases that appeared to be “intentional attacks from the start.” The statement also described that it was unclear if these recent incidents were caused by the individual behaviour of bears or by the general characteristics of the bear species. Ultimately, many experts on bears say that this is an “Unusual Situation” in one voice.
Western Japan is not the only part in danger. Residents in northern Japan have also expressed growing concern about the rise in bear encounters. In an interview with Reuters, confectioner Keiji Minatoya from Kitaakita described a frightening encounter with a Black Bear he experienced. “We locked eyes in silence,” he recalled, depicting the unexpected moment of the encounter. “While it was on me, there was this terrifying roar, the sound of a wild animal. Its mouth was right here,” the 68-year-old said, pointing to his ear. “That sound is burned into my head.” His horrific experience reflects the concerns of residents in rural areas, where bear sightings have sharply increased.
The Government of Japan also strengthened its response to prevent bear attacks, expanding both budget and legal authorities. According to the Japan Times, the Environment Ministry currently plans to increase the budget to ¥3.7 billion to support municipalities with fencing projects, trained wildlife response teams, and bear-proof equipment. This is a significant increase from the ¥2.6 billion budget in 2024. Furthermore, the government enacted a revised law to allow municipalities to authorise “emergency shootings” by hunters when dangerous animals enter populated areas. This change is expected to enable licensed hunters to act more quickly, minimising damage to residents.
