Bear Sightings Prompt Park closures and Safety Alerts in Akita Prefecture

A resident in the Shogunno Higashi area of Akita City reported seeing a one‑metre‑long bear on her property on the afternoon of July 22. Police from the Akita Rinkō station warned local residents to be cautious after also receiving a road‑side sighting at the same time.

Later the same day a bear was spotted in Honjō Park in the city of Yurihonjo. Authorities restricted access to the park, temporarily closed the pool and the adjacent Tsurumai ballfield, and announced plans to install a box trap within the park on July 22. This is the second park closure this year after a similar sighting on June 1.

The local government continues to monitor bear activity in the region and urges the public to avoid contact with the animals.