The Japanese government has therefore escalated its bear attack response, raising meetings from the working level to the ministerial level due to increasing injuries. Consequently, officials are mobilizing police and the Self-Defense Forces to ensure public safety.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara emphasized the urgency. “To protect the lives and livelihoods of people, we will step up any additional extraordinary measures against bear attacks,” he said at Thursday’s ministerial meeting.
Previously, meetings involved officials from the Environment Ministry and four other ministries. As a result of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s instruction, the upgrade to a ministerial-level discussion included the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
A senior official noted, “This reflects the Prime Minister’s sense of crisis as the situation is threatening people’s daily lives.” Therefore, the government aims to act decisively, as delays could invite criticism from opposition parties.
One key challenge is expanding personnel to capture and cull bears. Under emergency hunting rules, municipalities can authorize shooting bears in urban areas. In response, Kihara requested police use rifles for culling, while training, equipment, and knowledge are being urgently prepared.
Meanwhile, the Self-Defense Forces face legal restrictions under the SDF Law. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi clarified, “The SDF’s primary mission is national defense. We cannot implement unrestricted measures against bear attacks.”
Despite these limits, the SDF will nevertheless provide support in response to Akita Prefecture’s request. Specifically, assistance includes setting box traps and transporting culled bears to offset local personnel shortages. Moreover, the support is grounded in Article 100 of the SDF Law, which allows civil engineering and related work. The SDF has prior experience transporting captured Yezo sika deer in Hokkaido.
Furthermore, the Environment Ministry plans to proceed with bear capturing based on scientific data. In addition, next fiscal year’s budget proposal will fund training for government hunters, who are public officials with hunting licenses. The plan also includes strengthening deterrence measures using new technologies like drones.
Experts stress that the bear attack response must balance public safety, environmental protection, and legal constraints. Therefore, effective coordination between ministries, local governments, police, and the SDF will be critical for mitigating risks.
In conclusion, the bear attack response now reflects a nationwide, integrated approach. Ultimately, the government’s decisive measures aim to prevent further injuries and protect both residents and ecosystems.
