Utsunomiya closes 94 schools after urban bear sightings

The city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture ordered the closure of 94 public elementary and secondary schools after bears were reported roaming the densely populated area. The first sighting occurred on Saturday near Nagaoka Park, and within 24 hours the animals were spotted near multiple schools, government offices and a high‑school campus in Yonan. Local police and a wildlife control team, assisted by hunters, deployed patrols and set up a special task force to capture the animals, urging residents to keep doors and windows locked and avoid leaving waste out at night.

The incident comes amid a nationwide rise in human‑bear encounters in Japan, which this year has seen four fatalities and a record of more than 50,000 sightings, resulting in 13 deaths and 238 injuries during the last fiscal year.