Overview
- Authorities report encounters across multiple prefectures, including Hokkaido, Gunma and Akita, underscoring a broader rise in bear activity.
- A pedestrian walking a dog reported a bear near Toyotomi’s Fureai Bridge by an elementary school on November 26, prompting a police alert.
- An intercity bus struck a bear on the Toyotomi bypass earlier in November, and no injuries were reported.
- A bear found inside a restroom in front of JR Numata Station in Gunma left a male security guard with a minor injury, according to local reports.
- The National Police Agency is expanding tech-based responses with AI analysis as part of a coordinated national push alongside the new funding proposal.