A bear was slowly walking on the other side of the fence as if it was checking its surroundings. We caught the animal on camera on October 20 in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.

It was spotted at the Hara-Kei Memorial Museum, about 1.7 kilometers from Morioka Station and near a residential area.

The bear appeared to have lost its way. We also filmed it rubbing its body against a tree. After staying on the museum grounds for about four hours, the bear was captured.

Another bear appeared in a residential area in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture on October 20.

NNN Reporter / Hunting association members and police have gathered, creating a tense atmosphere. The hunting association members are heading  with hunting rifles.

The bear was inside a residence about 200 meters from JR Yuzawa Station. Damage caused by bears had been reported in the surrounding area since the morning.

Shortly after 5AM, a man was attacked from behind by a bear. Forty minutes later, another man was attacked from behind. The third bear attack took place in a hotel parking lot. At 6:20AM, the fourth victim sustained an injury to his right thigh.

The bear remained inside the residence of the fourth victim, prompting city officials and police to rush to the scene.

Bear attacks have been increasing across Japan. On October 18, two were attacked in Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture.

According to police, a 64-year-old man who was picking mushrooms suffered serious injuries after being scratched by a bear on his face and head. A 76-year-old woman who was walking her dog was separately  attacked by a bear.

A local who helped rescue the victim described the extent of her injuries.

Local who helped victim / When I arrived, she was near death. I don't know if her ear was torn off or her head was bitten or struck, but there was a hole there.

The woman appeared to have been targeted in the head and suffered serious injuries including a fractured skull.

A 41-year-old man sustained injuries including cuts near his left eye in Yamagata Prefecture on October 19.

Most bear attacks target the face and head, according to a doctor who has treated victims of bear attacks.

Suzuki Shinsuke, Hirosaki University Professor / Some injuries involve parts of the face being torn off, the bone and all.


The CT scan of a bear attack victim shows shattered bones around the eye and cheek.  The victim’s eyeball was ruptured.


Suzuki said that protecting the face and head is crucial to avoid life-threatening injuries.