Japan Deploys Troops to Tackle Surge in Deadly Bear Attacks

Japan began deploying soldiers on Wednesday to a northern region experiencing a surge in deadly bear attacks, which have reached record levels this year.

New Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government is rushing to draft a special policy package to address the crisis, which has claimed 12 lives and caused more than 100 injuries since April.

Due to Japan’s strict gun laws, the troops will not carry firearms or hunt the bears. Instead, they will be equipped with bear sprays, sticks, shields, goggles, bullet-proof jackets, and net launchers, the Defence Ministry said, as they work to restore a sense of safety in panicked communities.

Experts say a poor acorn harvest this year has driven Japan’s growing bear population into towns in search of food, particularly in northern regions such as Akita and Iwate. Rural depopulation has also blurred traditional boundaries between human settlements and bear habitats, encouraging bears to expand into residential areas.

Japan’s Self-Defence Forces have agreed to provide logistical support to rural areas, including transporting bear traps, hunters, and captured bears. On Wednesday, a team of 15 soldiers was deployed to Kazuno City in the hard-hit Akita region to assist in moving a trap.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Saito emphasised that the military’s primary focus is national defence but noted they would provide help whenever possible.

Takaichi’s cabinet held a special meeting last week to discuss the crisis and said it would announce a policy package by mid-November. Measures are expected to include increasing the number of hunters able to respond to urgent situations, such as bear sightings in residential areas.

Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki, who has repeatedly warned that his region lacks the capacity to combat the animals, thanked the troops for their assistance.

“By coordinating efforts with local municipalities, I hope to support the activities of the Self-Def