Bears have been spotted in tourist areas during Golden Week. A bear was seen dashing across a ski slope, causing the course to be temporarily closed.
■Bear sighting at ski resort, causing temporary closure Shouts of “There’s a bear!” echoed from a ski resort in Nagano Prefecture. On the morning of the 3rd, a bear appeared. The bear was seen running at high speed across the snow, with skiers ahead of it. According to the person who filmed it, the bear turned around when it saw the humans and headed back towards the mountains. The ski resort temporarily closed some courses. They have since reopened after safety checks were completed. With temperatures rising, bears have been appearing in various locations every day. On the 5th, there was also an attack on a person. In Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, a man in his 40s who was patrolling his rice fields was attacked by a bear and taken to the hospital. This was the first bear attack on a person in Akita Prefecture this year.
■Stay vigilant against bears during Golden Week Tourist areas are also gripped by tension during the Golden Week holiday. On May 5th, Children’s Day, the parking lot of a tourist facility in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, was packed. The area where visitors can interact with various animals such as rabbits and sheep is also popular. Meanwhile, the staff were in a frenzy from early in the morning. Chiaki Saito, General Affairs Manager of Akita Furusato Village: “Okay, I’m off. I’m going to patrol the area, including the outer roads.” “(Q. What are you on guard against?) There are a lot of bushes, so we’re on guard against bears.” There have been a series of bear sightings in Yokote City, where the facility is located, so they are patrolling the surrounding area.
Chiaki Saito, General Affairs Manager of Akita Furusato Village: “As you can see, patrol cars are patrolling.” “(Q. Are you on guard against bears?) I think so. For the past two or three days, there have been sightings in the mornings, and we see a lot of patrol cars.” A sense of vigilance is on the rise around the facility. They are carefully checking places where bears might be hiding. They are also taking measures such as increasing the volume of their speakers. Not only in tourist areas, but also in residential areas… On the 3rd, a bear entered the garden of a house in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture. The bear was captured approximately 5 and a half hours after a resident reported it. In addition, a bear was spotted running along the side of a road in the rain in Shizuoka Prefecture. The bear ran for more than 30 seconds and headed where…
■30-second dash towards a child’s school route Dashcam footage from a car driving in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The bear appeared after turning a corner. It continued running along the edge of the road and up a slope. Then it entered the grounds of a building on the left. Photographer: “It was on the road leading up to the shrine grounds, and it ran into the hill behind the toilet next to it. I really never imagined a bear would appear, so I’m surprised.” Looking at the area where the bear appeared, there are houses and other buildings. The bear ran along this road for more than 30 seconds. And the place the bear entered was…
Photographer: “The area in front of the shrine where it ran into is a meeting place for elementary school children on their way to school. I’m most worried about the impact on the children and everyone’s lives in the future. I have absolutely no experience dealing with bears, it’s scary.” As people in various places live their lives on guard against bears every day… The bear is located on the side of the road near the airport. In Akita Prefecture, where bear sightings are particularly frequent, a campaign to support accommodation businesses affected by bear sightings will begin on the 7th. [TV Asahi NEWS]
