Japan: Bear Injures Four in Fukushima After Rampage Through Factories and Homes

Fukushima, northern Japan, is on alert after a bear injured four people, wandering through two factories and a residential area. The incident highlights a disturbing trend of increasing bear attacks across Japan.

Police confirmed the bear sightings and injuries in Fukushima city, stating they are investigating the severity of the wounds. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, emergency services received a call reporting that "a bear bit employees" inside an auto parts factory. Two other individuals, one at an electronics company and another in a nearby residential area, were also attacked. The victims, aged 20 to 80, included one seriously injured person and three with minor injuries.

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A bear bit employees

This attack occurs amid a sharp rise in bear-related incidents nationwide. Official data reveals over 50,000 bear sightings between April 2025 and March 2026, more than double the previous record. Bears have been spotted entering homes, lurking near schools, and causing panic in supermarkets and hot spring resorts. Local authorities are issuing warnings about the heightened risk as the animals emerge from hibernation, desperately seeking food.

In April alone, bear attacks resulted in one death and five injuries, according to the Environment Ministry. The broader Tokyo area has also reported over a dozen sightings this year. In May, a Russian man hiking west of the capital was reportedly severely injured by a bear. The escalating encounters underscore a growing conflict between wildlife and human populations in Japan.

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A bear attack incident (...) occurred in Fukushima city, resulting in four injuries.