SASAKINO DISTRICT, FUKUSHIMA — A bear injured four people in the Sasakino district of Fukushima, Japan, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Police and fire department officials responded to an emergency call from Fukushima Steel Works reporting bear attacks on two employees.
Security camera footage shows a black bear chasing an employee in his 20s near the entrance of Fukushima Steel Works and throwing him to the ground. The same bear moved into the factory compound and injured a second male employee in his 60s. The bear later injured a third person, a male employee in his 60s, at a separate company. A woman in her 80s who lives in the neighborhood was also attacked and injured by the bear, according to the Fukushima City Fire Department.
The three men sustained minor injuries and the woman had moderate injuries, but none were considered life-threatening, the Fukushima City Fire Department reported. As of Tuesday afternoon, the bear had not been caught and was believed to be inside the second company compound, which was surrounded by uniformed police carrying long sticks. Two nearby schools were closed, including Noda Elementary School, which held classes online and posted a warning on its website to "avoid non-essential outings and stay safe." The incident rekindled nationwide concern following a surge in bear encounters in 2025, when Japan's Environment Ministry reported 13 fatalities from more than 230 bear attacks—the highest number of both attacks and deaths in any preceding year.
The Japanese government estimated the overall bear population at around 57,800 in March 2026. In response to rising incidents, officials adopted a bear population management roadmap that calls for systematic culling. Under the plan, the number of municipal bear control staff will triple to 2,500 within five years and the number of bear traps will double.
Bear sightings have also been reported recently in Tokyo's western suburbs, including the Okutama hiking area. Park officials have set up additional traps and launched bear alerts on social media in response. The Japanese government has intensified a public awareness campaign urging hikers and mushroom hunters to check bear sighting notifications and avoid outdoor activity during early morning and evening hours when bears are active.
An Environment Ministry manual advises that anyone encountering a bear should not panic, move slowly, and avoid turning around and running. It states that as a last resort, anyone attacked should turn face down, ball up, and cover their neck. According to the manual, "The point is to save yourself from a fatal wound."