Japanese citizens have been told to beware the bears – here’s why
There’s so many bears about in parts of Japan that soldiers have been sent to help residents of the northern region hit by a record number of attacks – but why are all these bears coming to town?
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
News that Japan has sent in soldiers to help manage the country’s bear problem may sound extreme – but the Japanese government has been forced to act in the interest of public safety. The northern region of the country has had a sharp increase in bear attacks, which have hit record levels this year.
New Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government has rushed to draft a special policy package to deal with the crisis, which has resulted in a record 12 deaths and more than 100 injuries since April.
Japan has strict gun laws and the troops will not carry firearms or hunt the animals.
They will instead arm themselves with bear sprays, sticks, shields, goggles, bulletproof jackets and net launches, the defence ministry said, as they attempt to restore a sense of safety in impacted communities.
WHY HAVE BEAR ATTACKS INCREASED?
A poor acorn* harvest this year has driven Japan’s growing bear population into towns as they seek food further afield, particularly in northern regions such as Akita and Iwate, experts have said.
Rural depopulation* has also blurred traditional boundaries between towns and bear habitats*, leading bears to expand their habitat range into residential areas, according to researchers.
Japan’s Self-Defence Forces agreed to offer assistance to rural areas, including transporting bear traps, hunters and bears that have been caught.
A team of 15 soldiers were deployed on Wednesday to help move a trap in Kazuno city in the hard-hit Akita region, which Reuters reports has a population of around 30,000 people.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Saito said the military’s focus was national defence, but they could help when possible.
“As bears continue to enter populated areas in many regions and injuries from bear attacks increase daily, we absolutely cannot afford to put off bear countermeasures,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato told Reuters.
Ms Takaichi’s cabinet* held a special meeting on the crisis last week and said she would offer a policy package by mid-November.
That is likely to include more hunters who can respond to the most urgent situations, such as bear sightings in residential areas.
Akita governor Kenta Suzuki, who has repeatedly warned that his region isn’t equipped to fight the animals, thanked the troops for their help.
“By co-ordinating efforts with local municipalities*, I hope to assist the activities of the Self-Defence Force troops,” Mr Suzuki said at a signing ceremony in Akita with the military to mark the start of the program.
BEARS OF JAPAN
While many of us have heard of North America’s “grizzly bears” and Eurasian brown bears, you may be surprised to discover Japan has its own subspecies* of these very big and more aggressive bruisers.
In fact there are two species of Japanese bear: the Asiatic black bear, also known as “moon bear” and the Ezo or Ussuri brown bear.
While the Japanese black bear weighs up to 130kg, brown bears are up to three times bigger, just like their North American and European counterparts, and can clock up a whopping 400kg on the scales.
Black bears are typically more timid but they are still omnivorous*, whereas brown bears are famously ferocious.
Bears have an ancient history in Japan. A 2021 study published by the Royal Society found that fossil DNA dated brown bear migration from Europe to the Ice Age.
Bears feature as a popular motif* in Japanese art and culture. The Tokyo National Museum special exhibition Bears and People (2014) displayed ceramics and accessories featuring bears that were created by people living in the Jomon period (between 11,000BC and 5th century BC).
Warriors used bear fur to decorate their armour as a symbol of power.
There are an estimated 44,000 black bears, found especially in northern Japan, and 12,000 Ussuri brown bears on the northernmost island of Hokkaido, according to government information.
BEAR SAFETY
Australian visitation to Japan is currently sky high.
Japan is a very popular family ski destination for Aussies thanks to great snowfall followed by ramen and gyoza straight off the slopes, plus the unusually favourable exchange rate makes Japan relatively affordable right now.
Nearly one million Aussies visited the Land of the Rising Sun* last year alone, an astonishing number that marked a 50 per cent increase year on year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
But many Australian tourists may be unaware of these basic safety tips in case of an unexpected bear encounter:
- Don’t run – easier said than done, but this is important. Back away slowly while maintaining eye contact and keeping the bear in view. Don’t turn your back.
- Don’t leave out food – not even for a little while, and don’t dump any food scraps
- Don’t be a dill – don’t hike at dusk or dawn, these times are when bears are most active
- Stay in your group – stay together, don’t hike or wander off alone and keep to established paths and tracks
- Stand tall – if a bear approaches you, stand up straight and slowly raise your arms to look bigger
- Stay calm – don’t panic, shout or make fast movements
- Pack deterrents – hikers are advised to carry bear bells, whistles and spray
- Check and follow updated advice – ask your parents to check with your hotel or tour operator to get up-to-date information and guidance before you set off.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- acorn: an oval nut that grows on an oak tree and has an outer part shaped like a cup
- depopulation: when a country or area has fewer people living in it than before
- habitats: natural environments in which an animal or plant usually live
- cabinet: a small group of the most important people in government, who advise the president or prime minister and make important decisions
- municipalities: cities and towns with their own local government
- subspecies: a particular type within a species
- omnivorous: naturally able to eat both plants and meat
- motif: a pattern or design
- Land of the Rising Sun: another name for Japan, as reflected in its flag, which dates back to 608 – more than 1400 years ago – to a letter by Prince Shotoku (574-622) in which he referred to his country as “the origin of the sun”
EXTRA READING
Bear cub’s carers wear costumes
Baby bear’s big climb up to mummy bear
Zoo denies standing bear is a human in disguise
QUICK QUIZ
- How many deaths and injuries have there been since April this year?
- What are the two bear species found in Japan?
- How many Australians visited Japan in 2024?
- What did ancient Japanese warriors decorate their armour with and why?
- How much can each of these two bear species weigh when fully grown?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Compare the bears
Complete a Venn diagram to record some similarities and differences of bear species.
Simple choice: Compare Asiatic black bears and Ussuri brown bears on a two circle Venn diagram.
Challenge choice: Compare Asiatic black bears, Ussuri brown bears and another bear of your choice on a three circle Venn diagram.
Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Geography
2. Extension
Create a song or rhyme that visitors and hikers could learn, to help them remember the safety tips provided at the end of the news article.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English
VCOP ACTIVITY
Animal alliterations
With a partner, choose one of the pictures from the article.
Make a list of nouns you could use to name the animal in the picture. For example, instead of a tiger, you could also say cat, or feline.
Pick your favourite noun and identify its initial sound — what sound it starts with, not necessarily what letter.
Now, using the initial sound, make a list of adjectives to describe the animal. Try to be specific. Don’t just look at the animal as a whole, look at their different features as well.
Build on these same sound words, and add any verbs and adverbs you could use to describe the animal and their movements.
Try to put it all together and use as many same sound words in a sentence, to create an alliteration about the animal in the picture. For example: the terrifying tiger, tiptoed through tangled trees chasing his prey.