A black bear moves around inside a box trap, attempting to pounce. Another video shows a larger bear exhibiting extremely high levels of ferocity. Multiple bears were filmed in the mountainous area of Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. On May 16th, an adult bear, approximately 1 meter long, was caught in a box trap intended for wild boars. The chairman of the local hunting association points out that something unusual is happening in 2026. Masakane Mamoru, chairman of the Miwa Hunting Association: Last year, we caught about one bear by May. This year, we’ve caught three in May alone. I think there are a lot of bears this year.
Perhaps the bear population in the mountains has reached saturation point, and they’re coming out here (to populated areas) because they’re running out of food. Footage of a bear caught in a tree trap shows it using its sharp fangs and claws to strip the bark off the tree in an attempt to escape. After the bear was captured, they looked at the tree… P
hotographer: It’s been eaten quite badly. The bear was about 1 meter long and was later culled. There have been a series of bear sightings in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the westernmost prefecture of Honshu. Looking at the “bear map” released by the prefecture, sightings are mainly in the eastern part of the prefecture, such as Iwakuni City, but on the 25th, a bear was also spotted in Shimonoseki City in the west. The chairman of the hunting association is increasingly concerned that the hunters are aging and there is a shortage of people to carry on the profession.
Masakane Mamoru, chairman of the Miwa Hunting Association: In another five years, once our generation is gone, there will be no more. There aren’t that many young people. The hunting association is also becoming an endangered species. (The bears) will be able to roam freely. The bears will soon enter their breeding season, and their range of activity is expanding. In Wakkanai City, Hokkaido, two bears were spotted crossing a road around 10 p.m. on the 23rd. Photographer: Isn’t that a bear? It’s a bear! Oh no, it’s a bear! The bears ran away from the scene at top speed. On the 7th, a brown bear native to Hokkaido was spotted strolling leisurely on a road in Tomakomai City. Photographer: Bear, bear, bear! Oh no, oh no, oh no, it’s huge! It’s incomparably larger than the Asiatic black bears sighted on Honshu. However, Asiatic black bears are also highly aggressive, so caution is necessary. On the morning of the 26th, a bear attacked a house in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, killing one chicken.
The entry point was the back of the shed. Resident: It broke this part (the egg removal opening) and entered from here. Bear footprints were found on the wall of the shed. Resident: It must not have been a very big bear. There were no injuries to people. Amidst the increasing number of bear attacks, there is one bear repellent product that is selling like hotcakes. Satoshi Sato of Genseirin Kuma Kobo: As a last resort, it’s a “bear repellent pole” to keep your distance and protect your face. Mr. Sato devised the “bear repellent pole.” The inspiration for its development came from a near-death experience three years ago.
While picking mushrooms in the mountains of Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, Mr. Sato was attacked by a bear. He fought back with a wooden stick and avoided fatal injuries, which led him to create the “bear repellent pole.” Makoto Sato of the Bear Workshop in the Virgin Forest: When a bear approaches, it usually stands up. That’s when you should thrust the tip of the pole at it. Try to avoid getting hit by the bear’s punches or fangs as much as possible.
Director Kaname Miyake: Can I try holding it? Oh, it’s really light. It’s light, but it doesn’t look like it will break. Makoto Sato of the Bear Workshop in the Virgin Forest: It’s not that weak. When the “bear repellent pole” was put on sale online in the spring of 2025, orders flooded in. The Aomori Prefectural Police also adopted it, and police officers were seen using it in the recent major capture operation where a bear had taken up residence in a hotel. Makoto Sato of the Bear Workshop in the Virgin Forest: We’ve sold over 1,000 of these in just over a year. Production can’t keep up. However, the most important thing is to keep bears away using bear bells and other means. Bear repellent poles should only be used as a last resort. FNN Prime Online
