As bear encounters surge, Japan looks beyond culling

Japan's bear population, estimated at 58,000, has been increasingly interacting with humans, leading authorities to reconsider management strategies. In Nagano, a 100kg Asiatic black bear, once captured as a cub and raised in captivity, now lives in an enclosure. This reflects the growing issue of bear-human conflict, with over 50,000 bear sightings reported in Japan from April 2025 to March 2026, more than double the previous record.

Bear attacks resulted in 13 deaths during the same period, with six since April this year. The crisis has prompted Japan to create a new ministerial role to manage bear countermeasures. To reduce encounters, measures such as clearing vegetation and constructing fences are being implemented. In schools, bear expert Shigeyuki Izumiyama has trimmed bushes to improve visibility.

When bears enter human settlements, experts like Izumiyama are called to tranquilize them. Suitable bears are released with GPS collars to monitor their movements. The Asiatic black bear, while vulnerable globally, has a significantly different situation in Japan. The government aims to reduce bear populations by over 30% in high-risk regions by fiscal year 2030.

Population control is part of the strategy, with a roadmap focused on preventing bears from entering human habitats and planning for more government hunters and a bear sanctuary. Masayoshi Miyazawa, 99, kept 10 bears on his farmland for 17 years, observing changes in bear behavior. While Miyazawa believes Japan needs alternatives to culling, he suggests developing strong-smelling repellents to deter bears.