Bear Attack on 82-Year-Old Woman in Japan – Video

AmmoLand ^ | October 21, 2025 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On October 8, 2025, an 82-year-old woman was attacked by an Asiatic black bear in the city of Daisen in Akita Prefecture, Japan. The attack was caught on video. The bear is presumed to be an Asiatic black bear because the brown bears (Ursus Arctos) in Japan are limited to the northern island of Hokkaido. Daisen and Akita prefectures are not in Hokkaido. Akita prefecture is on the largest of the Japanese islands, Honshu. Honshu has a significant population of Asiatic black bears.

From the bear’s actions, it appears to be a juvenile bear that has not yet perfected its hunting technique. The woman seems to hear the bear and turn toward it just before the running bear reaches her. The bear misses solid contact, only managing to claw the woman’s face before overshooting its mark. The woman is screaming, and after another abortive attempt at a take-down, the bear retreats.  This is typical prey-testing behavior for bears. The bear does not go very far, but a passing driver rescues the woman. She gets into the left passenger seat and they drive off. She was taken to the hospital.

Japan has more fatal bear attacks than the United States. It is a surprising fact, given that Japan’s population is only 36% of the USA population. The USA has about ten times as many American black bears as Japan has Asiatic black bears. The USA has about 3-4 times as many brown bears (Ursus arctos) as Japan has brown bears (Ursus arctos) on Hokkaido Island. Bears are hunted much more regularly in the USA than in Japan. Japan has one of the lowest rates of firearms ownership in the world, while the USA has the highest rate of firearms ownership in the world.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“They need to be more afraid of us than we of them!”

First of all, I don’t think we need to be any more aggressive towards the Japanese than we’ve already proven to be!

Oh, you mean the bears! ;)

They are doing their part here in northern Wisconsin. Between Training Season and Hunting Season they treed 60 black bear and culled 10 or so.

Beau is already on the phone making sure everyone in his club applies for and/or passes on a tag for next year so he has a good count on what to expect for hunters cycling through his Bear Camp next year. Deadline is early December for Bear tags.

He’s on it. He also hunted bear in Canada this spring. I’m not even going to SUGGEST he go to Japan to do the same...because he WOULD! ;)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Diana; Do it! He has the credentials and could apply to the Japanese as an bear removal expert! Sure he would have fun traipsing around with a pack of Akitas! (Maybe you could get a trip out of it?)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

No! I don’t want him any further away from me than Alaska - and that was bad enough while he was completely REMOTE - couldn’t get to where he was other than by boat or puddle-jumper airplane!

He does enough as it is to stop my heart...and not always in that GOOD way, LOL!

Japan’s bear problems are their own to solve; I suggest they import Elephants! ;)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Well I can see how that would be if he left you at home instead of taking you along with him. I was just trying to get you a trip to Japan!

I assume he was just fishing in Alaska. A different quality of bears that requires you to "Use enough gun,"

A father - daughter day yesterday. Coached youngest Sara to make her first loaf of bread! (She is in her 30s....She did well! hers is the Round loaf!)

This is recipe she used. Not sourdough, but done in 1/2 a day.

Jenny's European Bakery Village Bread

See Jenny's home page. Amazing looking Cherry pie! (Among other baked goods!)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Very nice bread - can’t believe that’s a FIRST TRY!!

Yes, I know you always look out for me. :) He was hunting Moose in Alaska - which is every bit as dangerous as bear, if not more so. He did go fishing too, and brought back the most amazing Haddock. That shut me up right there, LOL!