Frequent bear attacks have led Japan to ease control over the use of rifles

The number of bear attacks in Japan has increased. The authorities have relaxed gun control regulations, making it easier for hunters to use rifles in densely populated areas.

AFP reported that due to factors such as population decline and climate change, the phenomenon of wild bears being found in residential areas in Japan is increasing. Since April this year, four people have been killed by bear attacks and dozens more have been injured.

Authorities relaxed gun control regulations on Monday (September 1st). From now on, town officials can authorize hunters to use rifles in emergency situations while ensuring the safety of residents.

Japan has strict gun control. Previously, the use of shotguns required police approval.

Experts point out that the outflow of rural population and climate change have affected the food sources and hibernation cycles of bears, prompting more bears to move closer to towns. Meanwhile, the decline in Japan's population has led to an increase in abandoned farmland, making the boundaries between urban and rural areas and wild fields even more blurred. An aging society has also led to a decrease in the number of hunters.

In the fiscal year ending March 2025, a total of 85 bear attacks occurred in Japan, with 5,136 bears killed during the same period, a significant decrease from over 9,000 in the previous year.

In recent years, even in the Tokyo area, there have been reports of bears appearing. It was reported that a man was attacked by a bear while fishing in a mountain river under the jurisdiction of Tokyo in August.

According to data from Japan's NHK, at least 39 incidents of bears appearing in or around primary and secondary school campuses have occurred in Japan this year.