Japan grapples with rising bear attacks and new emergency shooting policy

Japan has experienced a surge in bear attacks, recording three fatalities and 20 injuries since April 2026, adding to a record year in 2025 that saw 13 deaths and more than 200 injuries. In response, a 2023 law revision allowed municipal mayors to order emergency bear shootings, a measure used 72 times in 12 prefectures by June 2024, mostly in urban areas. Mayors such as Fukushima’s Yuki Baba have expressed reluctance to fire guns in densely populated neighborhoods because stray bullets could endanger residents.

The program relies on licensed hunters, but Japan’s strict gun laws have reduced hunting participation: the Japan Hunters Association reported about 57,000 first‑class hunting licences in fiscal 2024, a 70 % decline from 1994, and training new shooters can take up to ten years. Some prefectures, like Toyama, plan subsidies and training to revive hunting.

Meanwhile, a Hokkaido company has seen demand for its “Monster Wolf” animatronic scarecrow skyrocket, with 50 orders placed by May 2026. The $4,000 device emits loud sounds to deter bears, deer and boars and is being adopted by farmers and other outdoor workers as a non‑lethal alternative to shooting.