A bear was spotted early on the morning of October 29 at an elementary school in Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture.

At about 5:15AM, the bear was seen on the road east of Akayu Elementary School.

Subsequently, the vice principal who arrived for work discovered that the glass in the door at the entrance for guests had been shattered.

Police are investigating the incident as a bear attack after surveillance cameras at the school captured footage of a bear.

Sugai Satoshi, Vice Principal: As I rounded the corner and saw the front door, I felt terribly frightened, thinking the bear might still be lurking inside the school building.

The school is located in the center of Nanyo, and police, city officials, and the hunting association are on alert.

Following the bear sighting, Akayu Elementary School was closed on October 29 as a precautionary measure.