The city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture has suspended all 94 of the primary and middle schools that it operates on Monday after its first-ever bear sighting, a municipal official said.
The city of about 500,000 residents 100 km north of Tokyo said the bear was first seen in a residential area near a park on Saturday evening. It remains at large after the last sighting early Monday morning about half a kilometer from a middle school.
Bear attacks, including in urban areas, have been on the rise in Japan, prompting the government to set up a task force this year to reduce casualties.
Last week, a bear attack in the northeastern city of Fukushima left at least four people injured. Security footage from Fukushima Steel Works shows a black bear chasing a worker by the entrance of the factory and throwing him to the ground.
Asiatic black bears are listed as a vulnerable species globally, but their numbers are estimated to have tripled in Japan since 2012, helped by a decline in hunting.
Experts say climate change has reduced harvests of bears' natural food like acorns and beechnuts, while the depopulation of rural areas and the proliferation of abandoned farmland have emboldened them to seek food near human settlements.
© Thomson Reuters 2026.
Read the full article at Japan Today →📄Source document: Municipal official statement
2 reports
The Japan TimesIndependentCenter12 days agoThe city of Utsunomiya has been on high alert after reports of a bear sighting near schools and residential areas since the weekend. A dayslong search culminated in the bear's capture.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a local incident involving wildlife management and does not present any political viewpoints or biased language. It focuses on the event itself without taking a stance.
Japan TodayIndependentCenter13 days agoThe city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools following the first-ever reported sighting of a bear in the area. The bear was spotted in a residential neighborhood near a park on Saturday evening and remained at large as of early Monday morning, approximately half a kilometer from a middle school. This incident follows an increase in bear sightings and attacks across Japan, with recent reports of a bear attack in Fukushima that injured several people. Experts suggest factors such as climate change, reduced hunting, and changes in熊
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any particular perspective. It includes details about the event, context regarding rising bear incidents in Japan, and expert opinions on contributing factors like climate change and hunting practices. There is no discernible bias in措
Official sources cited
- government Municipal official statement
- organisation Security footage from Fukushima Steel Works
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