Security cameras captured three bears, each over one meter long, heading towards the grounds of a house where people live. [TV Asahi News]
“It came slowly, then quickly. The bear approached me in this threatening manner,” said Yasuo Kanomata. Yasuo Kanomata was foraging for wild vegetables on his day off when he had a life-threatening experience in a peaceful mountain area. On May 17th, a bear suddenly appeared in front of a man who was picking udo (Japanese spikenard) by the side of a forest road in Tayori-cho, Shibetsu City. “When I turned around and looked at my car, the bear was about 5 meters away,” said Kanomata.
The bear that appeared in front of him was about 1.5 meters long. Kanomata involuntarily let out a loud cry, and the bear attacked him. “I stepped back on my own and fell over, and I don’t know what position the bear was in when it came at me, but the bear was above my body in front of me. The bear’s face was right in front of me and its mouth was open, so I thought it was going to bite my face! I thought this was bad and started flailing my arms, and by chance, one of them hit the bear’s nose and it ran away,” said Kanomata. Kanomata desperately resisted the bear while it was pinning him down and managed to drive it away. Miraculously, he was unharmed. “I’ve seen bears from a distance many times before while gathering wild vegetables, but when they’re this close, it’s just pure terror,” said Mr. Kanomata.
Mr. Kanomata has seen bears many times before. He usually carries a bear bell and other animal-repelling tools when he goes into the mountains, but on this day he wasn’t wearing them as he was only gathering wild vegetables by the roadside. However, not all cases are like this. Five years ago, a man in his 60s was found dead in Akkeshi town in eastern Hokkaido, apparently having been bitten on the head by a bear while gathering wild vegetables.
Also, two years ago, a man was injured when he was attacked by a bear while gathering wild vegetables in Urakawa town in Hidaka. Thorough preparation is necessary to safely enjoy gathering wild vegetables. Looking at past cases, there are very few instances where people who encounter brown bears have returned safely without injury.
We have summarized the reality of bear attacks in Hokkaido and measures to protect yourself. In 2025, there were five bear attacks in Hokkaido, resulting in six victims. Four people were injured and two died. In July, a tragic accident occurred in Fukushima Town in which a newspaper delivery man in his 50s died, highlighting the reality that encounters with brown bears often result in serious injuries. Accidents involving encounters with brown bears while gathering wild vegetables are also frequent. In the past five years, there have been two incidents of people being injured while gathering wild vegetables. In April 2021, a man in his 60s died in Akkeshi Town, and in May 2024, a man in his 60s was injured in Urakawa Town.
The man who was injured in this incident usually carried a bear bell, but he did not have it with him because he was on the side of a road and not in the mountains. When entering the mountains, it is important to be fully prepared, including carrying a bear bell, even if it is a short distance. Making it a habit to wear protective gear on a daily basis can save your life.
A bear appeared in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. Junior high school students were playing a soccer match on a nearby field. (From “news every.” broadcast on May 18, 2026)
