Japan's response to Kubiaka beetle invasion

In late July 2026, Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture launched a local reward scheme that paid residents 300 yen of city‑issued currency for each captured Kubiaka beetle, aiming to curb the pest that damages fruit trees. The program, funded with a 1 million‑yen budget, coincided with Japan’s first joint task‑force meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment, where ministers pledged tighter cooperation and announced a follow‑up meeting to develop broader eradication measures.

By early August, authorities in Kagawa Prefecture issued warnings to agricultural producers about the beetle’s spread, noting its impact on crops and native insects. Simultaneously, horticultural services firm Keihan Engei began a project in the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga) to protect cherry trees, offering diagnosis, preservation plans, and integrated pest‑control methods such as pesticide trunk injections, targeted spraying, and protective netting. The initiative reflects an expanding effort to safeguard iconic cherry blossoms and related tourism from the invasive species.