Japanese troops to help local authorities fight bear attacks

By Anadolu staff

Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will assist local authorities in northeastern Japan in combating a surge in bear attacks that has resulted in multiple human deaths, officials said on Tuesday.

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that the SDF plans to offer logistical support, Kyodo News reported.

"The lives and livelihoods of people are under threat. We will promptly start with what can be done," Koizumi told reporters after meeting with Akita Prefecture Governor Kenta Suzuki.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces are legally prohibited from shooting bears; however, the Defense Ministry is exploring alternative forms of assistance, including transporting and disposing of culled bears in Akita Prefecture.

Suzuki, a former SDF officer, requested the deployment of troops to help set traps and handle bear carcasses, saying local manpower is insufficient.

“I received a positive response from the minister over the dispatch of SDF members,” he said after the meeting.

Bear attacks have increased across northern and northeastern Japan, with a record 10 people killed in fiscal 2025.