# Persistent bear activity and encounters in Japan > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bear-activity-in-japan > Updated: 2026-09-08T23:59:34.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 17. Throughout mid-2026, Japan experienced frequent bear encounters, crop damage, and human injuries across several prefectures. In early July, a hunting accident in Nagano resulted in an 81-year-old man being shot in the shoulder while attempting to remove a bear. Concurrently, Hokkaido reported significant soybean field damage in Mori-cho. By late July, sightings increased in Ishikawa and Akita. In Ishikawa, a photographer encountered a 1.5-meter brown bear near Kigo Mountain, contributing to over 160 sightings in the prefecture that year. In Akita, sightings occurred in both Kazuno City rice fields and residential districts of Akita City, prompting police patrols. In Yamanashi, a young bear crossing a road near Fujiyoshida on 27 July necessitated disaster-prevention radio alerts and fireworks. On 30 July, another bear was seen crossing a city road in Fujiyoshida, prompting further warnings. In early August, Fukushima Prefecture saw a surge of sightings across the Aizu, central corridor, and Hamadori areas. On 3 August, a bear scratched a person's face in Aizumisato. In Sapporo, police increased patrols in Kiyota Ward after a driver reported seeing a large, black, rounded animal on 8 August. In Niigata, an 80-centimeter bear was spotted in Joetsu City on 12 August. In Sendai, a man in his 60s sustained facial injuries during an attack in Aoba Ward on 13 August. On 16 August, vehicle collisions were reported in Akita on the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway and in Kitami, Hokkaido, where a collision with a 1.5-meter bear led to the temporary emergency closure of a nearby amusement park. By 23 August, a foreign tourist in his thirties was bitten on the arm by a bear near Lake Towada in Aomori Prefecture. In early September, sightings of Asiatic black bears continued to rise. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-08: Bear sightings reported in Fukushima and Akita prefectures Bears were spotted in Fukushima and Akita prefectures on September 9, prompting police warnings and increased vigilance in residential areas. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-sightings-reported-in-fukushima-and-akita-prefectures ### 2026-09-08: Japan introduces new resources to manage rising bear encounters New guides and educational seminars are being launched in Japan to address rising bear encounters by teaching scientific understanding of bear ecology and proper safety protocols. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-introduces-new-resources-to-manage-rising-bear-encounters ### 2026-09-05: Japan reports multiple bear sightings and attacks across several prefectures Japan reports a rise in wildlife encounters, including a bear attack in Nagano, emergency hunting in Kyoto, and sightings in Yamanashi and Niigata, prompting local safety warnings. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-reports-multiple-bear-sightings-and-attacks-across-several-prefectures ### 2026-09-02: Japan bear sightings prompt emergency hunts and new hazard pay Rising Asiatic black bear sightings in Japan have led Iwaki City to propose hazard pay for wildlife management, while Maizuru City launched an emergency hunt for bears sheltering under a residence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-bear-sightings-prompt-emergency-hunts-and-new-hazard-pay ### 2026-08-31: Fukushima issues bear advisory amid rising human injuries Fukushima has issued a prefecture-wide bear advisory through November due to rising injuries, while Miyagi has lifted its bear warnings following a decrease in recent sightings. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fukushima-issues-bear-advisory-amid-rising-human-injuries ### 2026-08-26: Japan implements safety measures amid rising bear sightings Increased bear sightings in Japan are prompting safety measures, including observatory closures in Aomori and the installation of AI surveillance cameras in Utsunomiya to manage urban incursions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-implements-safety-measures-amid-rising-bear-sightings ### 2026-08-23: Bear attacks tourist near Lake Towada in Japan A foreign tourist was injured by a bear attack near Lake Towada in Aomori, Japan, amid rising wildlife incidents in the country. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-attacks-tourist-near-lake-towada-in-japan ### 2026-08-18: Fukushima Prefecture reports multiple bear sightings Frequent bear sightings have been reported across Fukushima Prefecture, including sightings in Fukushima City, Aizuwakamatsu, and Date City, with animals crossing major roads and national routes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fukushima-prefecture-reports-multiple-bear-sightings ### 2026-08-16: Japan reports multiple vehicle collisions involving bears Drivers in Akita and Hokkaido, Japan, have reported collisions with bears. Both incidents resulted in no human injuries, though one event caused the temporary closure of a local amusement park. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-reports-multiple-vehicle-collisions-involving-bears ### 2026-08-13: Bear attacks and sightings reported in Sendai and Joetsu A man was injured in a bear attack in Sendai, while authorities in Joetsu, Niigata, are on alert following a bear sighting in a residential area. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-attacks-and-sightings-reported-in-sendai-and-joetsu ### 2026-08-09: Japan increases bear safety measures following recent attacks Japanese authorities in Gifu and Tochigi prefectures are increasing safety measures, including signage and electric fencing, following recent bear attacks and frequent wildlife sightings. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-increases-bear-safety-measures-following-recent-attacks ### 2026-08-07: Sapporo police on alert after bear-like animal sighting Police in Sapporo are on alert after a bear-like animal, approximately one meter long, was sighted in a residential area on the night of August 8. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sapporo-police-on-alert-after-bear-like-animal-sighting ### 2026-08-03: Bear sightings and injury reported in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan Fukushima Prefecture saw numerous bear sightings on Aug 1‑3 2026, with a person injured by a bear in Aizumisato on Aug 3. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-sightings-and-injury-reported-in-fukushima-prefecture-japan ### 2026-07-31: Japan sees drop in Sapporo bear sightings as Fujiyoshida reports new encounter Sapporo’s bear sightings fell for four months after large captures and a poor acorn crop, while Fujiyoshida reported a recent bear crossing a city road with no injuries. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-sees-drop-in-sapporo-bear-sightings-as-fujiyoshida-reports-new-encounter ### 2026-07-27: Bear sightings reported in Yamanashi and Akita prefectures, Japan Bears were spotted near Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi and in Akita City on July 27, prompting local alerts and police patrols; no injuries were reported. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-sightings-reported-in-yamanashi-and-akita-prefectures-japan ### 2026-07-24: Japan reports increasing brown bear sightings in Kanazawa and Akita regions Late‑July bear sightings near Kanazawa and Akita raise safety concerns as Japan reports a surge in brown bear activity near roads and fields. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-reports-increase-in-bear-sightings-across-ishikawa-and-akita-prefectures ### 2026-07-03: Japan bear incidents injure hunter in Nagano and damage soybean field in Hokkaido A rifle shot injured an 81‑year‑old hunter in Nagano after a bear was trapped, while a bear in Hokkaido damaged a soybean field, prompting police warnings. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-incidents-in-japan-injure-elderly-hunter-and-damage-hokkaido-soybean-field --- Cite as: Persistent bear activity and encounters in Japan. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bear-activity-in-japan