(Adnkronos) – After the deployment of the army to the northern prefecture of Akita to confront the dramatic wave of bear attacks, Japan is ready to take a further step: the National Police has modified its rules to allow officers to use firearms against the animals, if necessary. The decision, reported by Kyodo News, comes in response to a new peak of attacks that have caused 13 deaths since last April, an absolute record. Until now, the rules on the use of weapons were extremely restrictive, limited to cases of kidnapping or serious emergencies; the amendment will come into force on November 13.
The new armed units will operate in the prefectures of Iwate and Akita, the most affected, where two teams will be deployed for each territory, consisting of a commander, a liaison with local authorities, and two sharpshooters. Officers will be able to intervene without waiting for authorization from local authorities in case of bear sightings in urban areas. Joint exercises will also be initiated with hunting associations to better understand the animals’ habits. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the main cause of the increase in sightings – over 8,000 in 2025 – is the “disastrous” beech harvest, one of the bears’ main food sources, which increasingly drives them towards inhabited centers.
The measure comes as a further response to a crisis that has afflicted Japan for months: after 13 deaths and over a hundred injuries, the government had already sent self-defense forces to Akita to collaborate with hunters in placing traps, but without authorizing them to shoot. The attacks, concentrated mainly in the north of the country, have forced authorities to suspend public events, close schools, and urge citizens to stay indoors after sunset, in an emergency fueled by demographic decline in rural areas and climate change.
