In central Japan, a restless bear wandered through a supermarket, injuring two men and alarming shoppers. Meanwhile, a separate incident involved a man found dead, suspected to be a victim of a bear attack, according to officials and reports on Wednesday.
Japan has seen an increase in wild bear sightings, even in residential areas, due to factors like a shrinking human population and climate change.
In the northern Iwate region, a man was discovered dead on a mountain on Wednesday, suspected to be another bear attack victim, as reported by public broadcaster NHK, citing police sources.
Additionally, a 1.4-meter (4.5-foot) adult bear entered a supermarket in Numata, Gunma, north of Tokyo, on Tuesday evening. It lightly injured a man in his 70s and another in his 60s, according to regional police and fire officials.
Hiroshi Horikawa, a management planning official at the grocery store chain, stated that the store, located near mountainous areas, had never experienced bear visits before. “The bear entered through the main entrance and stayed inside for about four minutes,” he said.
“It nearly climbed onto the fish counter, damaged glass, and in the fruit section, it toppled a pile of avocados and trampled them,” he added.
The store’s manager mentioned to local media that about 30 to 40 customers were present at the time, and the bear became agitated while trying to find the exit.
From April to September, 108 individuals nationwide were injured by bears, resulting in five fatalities, according to the environment ministry.
On the same Tuesday, a farmer in the Iwate region was scratched and bitten by a bear accompanied by a cub just outside his home.
On Sunday, a Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear at a bus stop in the picturesque Shirakawa-go village in central Japan.
