Black bear sightings in Japan hit record high in FY2025

TOKYO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Sightings of Asian black bears across Japan totaled 50,776 in fiscal 2025, the highest level since comparable data became available in fiscal 2009, government data showed Monday.

The figure for the year from April 2025 to March 2026 represented a 2.5-fold jump from the 20,513 sightings in the previous fiscal year, according to Japan's Ministry of the Environment.

The surge in bear appearances was partly attributed to the poor harvest of food sources, including acorns.

By prefecture, Akita in northeastern Japan recorded the most sightings of Asian black bears at 13,592, with neighboring Iwate coming in second at 9,739.

The total number of bears captured nationwide, including brown bears, also set a new record at 14,720, with Akita Prefecture topping the list at 2,690.

Bear attacks across Japan left 238 casualties in fiscal 2025, including 13 deaths, according to preliminary data released earlier by the ministry.