[marktwain]

Already five fatalities in 2026, with a sixth under investigation. The heaviest season for bear attacks in Japan is September-November. Japan may set another record for fatal bear attacks in one year.

[marktwain]

[PeterPrinciple]

The increase in bear attacks is attributed to an increasing bear population. The bear population has increased for several reasons. Hunting of both species of bears was severely restricted since 1990. Before 1990, bears were treated as pests.

[x]

There is no right to keep and bear arms in Japan, so only bears have guns.

[x]

Send your used or unwanted mirrors to Japan now.

[Wallace T.]

Bringing in hunters from other countries would raise income for the Japanese government and help local businesses in the rural districts of that country.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

[butlerweave]

Take away guns and people still by die by Stupid Government

[MtnClimber]

That is a lot of bear attacks. It seems the bears in Japan do not fear humans. Yet.

[BipolarBob]

They need social workers to try and negotiate with the bears. Or maybe some midnight basketball courts for the bears.

[kawhill]

“All five verified bear fatalities in 2026 have been inflicted by Asiatic black bears.” Evidently, they don’t like Japanese people very much.

[EnderWiggin1970]

They have a very elderly, shrinking population, with victim disarmament making it difficult for rural residents to defend themselves. Increased production density in agriculture combined with population loss means developed land is shrinking, with animals increasingly moving into once-inhabited/cultivated areas.

The spike in attacks and deaths seems too sharp to be explained by these changes though, which are very gradual in effect. I wonder if the numbers will come back down, or if something else is driving a rapid increase in attacks.