Japan has mobilised its military in the country’s mountainous north as communities grapple with a surge in bear attacks, with local authorities pointing to shifting food patterns driven by climate change as a possible factor. The self-defense forces (SDF) were deployed Wednesday to Kazuno, a small town in Akita Prefecture, after officials warned that residents faced daily threats from bears foraging near homes.According to Japan’s ministry of the environment, more than 100 bear attacks have been reported since April, leaving a record 12 people dead. Two-thirds of these fatalities occurred in Akita and nearby Iwate Prefecture. Bear sightings in Akita have risen six-fold this year, reaching over 8,000, prompting the prefectural governor to request military assistance.In Kazuno, soldiers arrived in trucks and jeeps, equipped with body armour and large maps, to help transport, set, and inspect steel-barred traps. Trained hunters will carry out the culling. Mayor Shinji Sasamoto said, “The townspeople feel the danger every day… It has affected how people live their lives, forcing them to stop going out or cancel events.”Experts point to a combination of factors behind the surge. Rising bear populations, climate change-induced shortages of natural forest food, and rural depopulation have all contributed to increased human-bear encounters. “Last year there was an abundance of food in the mountains, and many cubs were born. This year, the food supply has run out,” said Yasuhiro Kitakata, head of Kazuno’s bear department.Recent attacks have occurred in unusual places: customers inside a supermarket were assaulted, a tourist was jumped at a bus stop near a UNESCO world heritage site, and a hot spring resort worker was injured. Schools in affected areas have temporarily closed as a precaution. Bear attacks typically peak in October and November, as animals forage intensively ahead of winter hibernation.The SDF operation in Kazuno, a town of roughly 30,000 known for its hot springs and apple orchards, will continue through November and expand to Odate and Kitaakita. Tokyo is also planning a broader emergency package, including recruiting more licensed hunters and relaxing gun rules to make it easier to control bear populations in urban areas. Deputy chief cabinet secretary Kei Sato said, “As bears continue to enter populated areas in many regions and injuries from bear attacks increase daily, we absolutely cannot afford to put off bear countermeasures.” Analysts warn that climate change may make such incidents more frequent, as rising temperatures and shifting seasonal food patterns push wildlife closer to human settlements. Japan’s unusual military deployment highlights the growing challenge of coexisting with wildlife in an era of environmental change.
