Hachioji, a suburb of Tokyo, is set to purchase 700 anti-bear sprays for schools and community organizations as part of an emergency spending plan, local government officials confirmed on Wednesday. The measure comes in response to a surge in bear encounters across Japan, which saw a record 13 human fatalities caused by bears in the last fiscal year, according to the environment ministry.
Rising Bear Incidents in Japan
Between April 1 and May 30 this year, five more people were killed and 20 injured in bear attacks. Nationwide, bear sightings exceeded 50,000 in the fiscal year ending March, more than double the previous record set two years earlier. Hachioji, located on the outskirts of the Tokyo metropolitan area, has reported 11 sightings or signs of bears since April. A motion-activated camera captured footage of a black bear near a residence on April 29, as reported by broadcaster NHK.
Emergency Spending Plan
The city will allocate 15 million yen ($93,000) for bear deterrents, including sprays, movable electric fences, and devices that emit high-pitched sounds, said local government spokesman Ryosuke Sato. Additionally, Hachioji is drafting an action plan to coordinate with hunters and police in case bears enter residential areas. “By closely working with police and hunters, we are drafting a manual on how to deal with bears should they come to our streets,” Sato added.
Recent Bear Incidents
In recent months, there has been a notable increase in bear sightings after hibernation, with several incidents of bears entering urban areas. Earlier this month, all schools in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, were closed after a bear roamed the city for four days, evading dozens of police officers and hunters before being captured. Prior to that, a bear described as “extremely intelligent” — it opened a window and turned on a tap — attacked four people at two factories in Fukushima and remained at large for days.
Preventive Measures
National and regional governments are taking steps to clear bushes along riverbanks and areas between neighborhoods and mountains, including in Hachioji, to reduce bear habitats near urban areas and prevent further intrusions.
