According to the mayor of Kazuno, the small town where soldiers were deployed, the attacks have significantly impacted people's lives. The bears keep them in a state of constant worry.
“This has affected people's lives, forcing them to stay indoors or cancel events,” the mayor said.
As the agency noted, the military will set up bear traps. Professional hunters will neutralize the predators.
Previously, Akita Prefecture Governor Kenta Sudzuki had requested assistance from the military in combating the bear attacks on people. The regional governor sent a message to Japan's Self-Defense Forces on October 26, describing the situation as severe.
Since April 2025, nine people have died in bear attacks across the country. The number of attacks has particularly increased in Hokkaido, the northernmost of the main islands, and in northeastern Japan. In October, a bear attacked an elderly couple near homes in Aizuwakamatsu. They survived, but the bear escaped into the forest, reported by news.ru.
