A Self-Defense Forces member holds a shield during practice setting up a bear trap in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2025. Photo: Reuters
The figure for the first seven months of fiscal 2025, including 12 fatalities, is approaching the country's record annual high of 219 casualties recorded in fiscal 2023.
In October alone, 88 people were attacked by bears, seven of whom died, with both figures marking record highs for a single month.
By prefecture, Akita had the highest number of casualties during the April-October period, with 56, including three fatalities, followed by 34 in Iwate, 20 in Fukushima and 15 in Nagano.
In Akita, 37 bear attacks were reported in October alone, including two deaths.
The ministry said human casualties rose sharply in October as more bears appeared in urban areas due to a scarcity of beech nuts, a key part of their diet.
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