The government held a meeting in Tokyo on September 11 to review bear sightings in Japan ahead of the animal's active season in the fall.

Officials of the Environment Ministry told the meeting that the number of sightings of the Asian black bear between April and July this year across the country was the highest in five years.

Due to this year's poor growth in beech nuts that bears feed on, sightings of the animal could increase in the autumn.

The officials said the situation is similar to the fiscal year from April 2023 to March 2024 when bear sightings hit a record high in Japan.

According to the ministry, five people were fatally attacked by bears between April and August this year, already more than the three fatalities reported during last fiscal year.

The officials said they will take measures to reduce bear-related damage.