Bear attacks have increased in Japan, according to multiple opposing news blocs. More than 200 human casualties from bear attacks have occurred in the country, and 13 deaths were reported this year, with another 13 deaths recorded last year.

According to bluesky, bear encounters in Japan are no longer rare incidents. The same outlet reported that 13 deaths from bear attacks were reported this year. According to dw, hunter numbers have fallen in Japan and bears are less afraid of humans. In a town north of Tokyo, nearly 100 schools were shut down following a spate of bear sightings, reported by france24. That same town experienced a bear that attacked four people, opened a water tap and unlatched a window to escape a building it had been trapped in, also reported by france24. France24 also noted that Kazuhiko Maita has survived nine bear attacks.

A recent string of bear attacks targeted people collecting wild plants in northeast Japan's Tohoku region, reported by mainichi. Local governments are struggling with the recent bear attacks in the Tohoku region, also reported by mainichi.

The Japanese government has drafted a "bear damage countermeasure roadmap" to be finalized through a ministerial meeting soon, reported by en.sedaily.com. The roadmap focuses on intensifying captures during spring, when bears emerge from hibernation, and aims to build a systematic population management system by 2030, both reported by en.sedaily.com.