Japan ramps up bear‑control measures after Fukushima injuries

A black bear entered the Sasakino district of Fukushima city on Tuesday, injuring four people – a man in his twenties, two men in their sixties and an 80‑year‑old woman – after chasing a worker at the Fukushima Steel Works plant. Video from security cameras captured the animal charging the employee, knocking him down, and then attacking two more workers before striking the resident.

The incident prompted the temporary closure of two nearby schools and an online‑learning directive for students. Authorities say the attack is part of a surge in human‑bear encounters; in 2025 Japan recorded more than 230 bear attacks, resulting in 13 deaths, the highest fatality count on record. The Ministry of the Environment has announced a five‑year population‑management plan that will triple the number of staff tasked with bear control to 2,500 and double the number of traps deployed.

The rise in attacks follows a previous wave in Akita prefecture, where bears assaulted 60 people and killed four last year, prompting a military deployment to the region. Officials advise residents to avoid panicking, retreat slowly, and, if attacked, lie face‑down and protect the neck.