There is a great book by David Kopel, “ The Samurai, the Mountie and the Cowboy: Should America Adopt the Gun Controls of Other Democracies?‘
In this outstanding piece of history, and well-footnoted research, Kopel basically says that the underlying/foundational culture of a nation is a barrier to gun policy in Country A being adopted in Country B.
Regarding the US and Japan, the Cowboy and the Samurai are incompatible. The Samurai is effectively an elitist, defending “the little people” who crave his protection. It’s the opposite of the Cowboy.
I am not saying that these bear attacks are a result of this Japanese mentality. However, maybe someone should dispatch some Samurai to the woods.