Riot Police Authorized to Shoot Bears as Attacks Surge in Japan

As of November 13th, 2025, the Japanese government has taken drastic measures to address a growing bear crisis in the country. Over the past several months, a record 13 people have been killed by bears, with incidents of the animals entering homes, roaming near schools, and even rampaging in supermarkets becoming increasingly common.

In response, the government has revised the country's strict gun laws to allow riot police to use rifles to shoot bears. This new policy went into effect just last week, with a deployment ceremony held for the specialized police team. The northern regions of Akita and Iwate, where most of the attacks have occurred, are now the focus of these enhanced bear control efforts.

The surge in deadly bear encounters has prompted the US embassy in Tokyo to issue a "wildlife alert", warning people to avoid walking alone in areas where bears have been sighted and to stay away from those regions altogether. The British government has also advised travelers to take similar precautions. Local authorities have even been forced to close a zoo in Sapporo after a bear was spotted in the vicinity.

Experts attribute the rise in bear attacks to a combination of factors, including a fast-growing bear population and a poor acorn harvest this year, as well as a declining human population in the affected areas. The government is now scrambling to address the crisis, deploying soldiers to the hardest-hit Akita region, though they will not be carrying firearms or hunting the bears directly.