Overview
- On Wednesday an anti-bear spray was accidentally discharged inside a central Nagoya post office, leaving eight people feeling ill and five taken to hospital with no serious injuries reported.
- Police say an unnamed foreign national apologized and told officers the release was unintentional, and one report says the man was later arrested on suspicion of obstructing business.
- The mishap comes as national data show a surge in bear incidents, with the Environment Ministry recording 238 attack victims and a record 13 deaths in the last year and at least five deaths since April.
- Local responses have expanded: some cities are buying large stocks of bear spray for schools and public buildings, and authorities have run multi-day trapping operations that forced school closures.
- Public-health and safety officials warn that repellents contain capsaicin, which can cause severe irritation to bystanders, and the event could prompt tighter controls, more public guidance on use, and added strain on local emergency services.