# Japan Bear Attacks: Why They’re Rising, What’s Happening, and How to Stay Safe…
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# Japan Bear Attacks: Why They’re Rising, What’s Happening, and How to Stay Safe
# 일본 곰 습격: 왜 늘어났나, 지금 무슨 일이 벌어지나, 어떻게 안전해지나
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## English
### 1) What “bear attacks in Japan” usually means
In Japan, the most serious category is **human-injury incidents** (people bitten/clawed, sometimes fatal). These are tracked by the **Ministry of the Environment (MOE)** as monthly/annual “速報値 (preliminary)” compiled from prefectures, and later may be revised. ([env.go.jp][1])
Japan’s “bear problem” is broader than attacks: it includes **sightings near homes, bears entering towns, crop damage, and repeated nuisance behavior**. These drive emergency responses even before anyone is injured. ([env.go.jp][1])
### 2) The two bear species involved (and why it matters)
Japan has two native bear types that create different risk profiles:
* **Asian black bear (ツキノワグマ)**: found across much of Honshu and parts of Shikoku; most injury cases nationwide are linked to this species.
* **Brown bear (ヒグマ / Ezo brown bear in Hokkaido)**: mainly Hokkaido; fewer incidents nationally, but **larger body size** makes high-severity encounters a serious concern.
### 3) Recent trend: record injuries and unusually high fatalities (official figures)
MOE’s published preliminary totals show a clear surge:
* **FY2023 (Reiwa 5):** **198 incidents / 219 victims / 6 deaths** (record-high injuries).
* **FY2024 (Reiwa 6):** **82 incidents / 85 victims / 3 deaths** (down from the peak).
* **FY2025 to end-Nov 2025 (Reiwa 7, “R07年11月末”):** **209 incidents / 230 victims / 13 deaths** (already extremely high, and explicitly labeled preliminary).
Species breakdown (same MOE sheet, FY2025 to end-Nov 2025) indicates most victims are from **Asian black bears (ツキノワグマ 224 victims / 11 deaths)** versus **brown bears (ヒグマ 6 victims / 2 deaths)**.
MOE’s own committee materials also show **very high sighting volumes early in FY2025** (e.g., **15,893 sightings April–Aug**, plus dozens of injury cases and multiple deaths in that period). ([env.go.jp][2])
### 4) Why encounters and attacks are rising (the real drivers)
This is not “one cause.” It’s a stacked risk system where several trends reinforce each other:
**A. Food shocks in the mountains (mast failure)**
When key wild foods—especially **acorns and beechnuts**—fail, bears expand their foraging radius into villages and towns. MOE explicitly notes that in FY2023, particularly in Tohoku, **poor nut crops (“ドングリが凶作”)** coincided with the record injury year. ([env.go.jp][2])
International reporting in 2025 repeatedly points to the same mechanism (poor acorn/beechnut crops) as a major factor behind the current surge. ([가디언][3])
**B. Rural depopulation and “blurred boundaries” (satoyama effect)**
As farmland is abandoned and communities shrink, the managed buffer between forest and settlement weakens. Bears can approach more quietly, find more cover, and discover human food sources more easily. ([가디언][3])
**C. Climate effects: longer active seasons + disrupted hibernation timing**
Warmer conditions can lengthen periods when bears remain active and searching for calories, increasing overlap with human activity—especially in late summer to autumn. ([가디언][3])
**D. Attractants: garbage, compost, fruit trees, livestock feed, pet food**
Once a bear learns that towns equal easy calories, it may repeat the behavior and become harder to deter. Local government guidance in Hokkaido explicitly warns about strong-smelling foods and emphasizes strict food/garbage control alongside noise and group travel. ([톱커마이시][4])
**E. Response capacity constraints (hunters, rapid control)**
Japan’s ability to respond depends heavily on licensed hunters and local systems. In 2025, multiple reports describe stretched local capacity, including extraordinary measures such as troop deployment for trapping support in Akita. ([Reuters][5])
### 5) How “bear attacks” typically happen in Japan
Most injury events are not “predatory hunting.” They are **close-range surprise encounters** or **defensive reactions**, often triggered by:
* Sudden contact in thick vegetation, poor visibility, near rivers, or during bad weather
* Approaching a **mother with cubs** or a bear protecting a food source (including carcasses)
* Human behavior that escalates: **running**, turning your back, or crowding the bear’s escape route ([홋카이도현][6])
### 6) High-risk times, places, and activities (practical pattern)
* **Seasonality:** late summer through autumn is especially risky because bears intensify feeding before winter. ([Le Monde.fr][7])
* **Time of day:** early morning / dusk / night increase overlap. ([톱커마이시][4])
* **Activities:** mushroom gathering, bamboo shoot collecting, trail running, dog walking near forest edges, and work that puts people alone outside (e.g., deliveries) appear repeatedly in official summaries of fatal incidents. ([env.go.jp][2])
* **Geography:** northern and northeastern prefectures (and Hokkaido) are repeatedly highlighted as hotspots in 2025 coverage and official incident summaries. ([Reuters][5])
### 7) What Japan is doing (policy and emergency response)
Because bears increasingly enter “daily living areas,” Japan has moved to enable **faster armed response under strict conditions**.
MOE explains the background clearly: wildlife (notably bears and boars) entering residential/populated areas has increased, and the existing law restricts gun use in concentrated residential areas—creating delays in “standoff” scenarios (e.g., a bear inside/near buildings). ([env.go.jp][8])
Key reform: **municipal mayors can authorize “emergency shooting”** when (i) urgent harm prevention is needed, (ii) non-gun methods cannot respond swiftly, and (iii) evacuation/controls remove bullet-risk to residents. ([env.go.jp][8])
In parallel, 2025 reporting describes field measures such as trapping operations and logistical support (including troop assistance for trap setup/inspection in Akita), reflecting the severity of the current wave. ([Reuters][5])
### 8) Personal safety: prevention is the real “winning strategy”
**A. Before you go (hiking, camping, rural travel)**
1. **Check local alerts** (prefecture/municipal bear sighting pages; MOE publishes national materials and references). ([env.go.jp][1])
2. Avoid **dawn/dusk** routes and lone travel in dense cover. ([톱커마이시][4])
3. **Make your presence known** (voice, whistle, bell) especially in blind corners, loud streams, thick brush. ([톱커마이시][4])
4. **Control scent and food**: keep snacks sealed; never leave food/garbage outside; don’t carry strongly scented items loosely. ([톱커마이시][4])
**B. If you see a bear (most important behaviors)**
* **Do not run.**
* **Back away slowly** while facing the bear; give it an escape route. ([Nippon][9])
* If the bear does not leave, keep distance; avoid cornering it; do not approach for photos. ([마이니치 신문][10])
**C. If the bear approaches or an attack seems imminent**
* Official and expert guidance commonly emphasizes a last-resort posture: **lie face down, protect the neck and head with both hands**, reducing severe injury risk in many cases. ([Nippon][9])
**D. Bear spray (what it is, how it’s used, and limitations)**
Japan’s national-park guidance in Shiretoko describes bear spray as a capsaicin-based tool that can be effective **only at very close range**, roughly **3–4 meters**, aimed at **eyes and nose**, and carried where it can be drawn instantly (holster at waist, etc.). It explicitly calls it a “last resort,” not a substitute for prevention. ([env.go.jp][11])
Local Hokkaido materials also reference bear-spray carry as part of a broader safety kit, alongside bells/whistles and time-of-day planning. ([톱커마이시][4])
### 9) “Common mistakes” that increase injury severity
* Trying to **outrun** a bear (you cannot).
* Turning your back and sprinting (can trigger pursuit). ([Nippon][9])
* Hiking silently, alone, at dawn/dusk through dense vegetation. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Leaving attractants: open trash, compost, fallen fruit, pet food. ([홋카이도현][6])
### 10) A historical note: Japan has lived with “bear disasters” for a long time
The most famous historical case is the **1915 Sankebetsu brown bear incident** in Hokkaido, where a brown bear killed multiple people over several days—still widely referenced in Japan’s discussion of bear risk and community preparedness. ([town.tomamae.lg.jp][12])
---
## 한국어
### 1) “일본 곰 습격”이 의미하는 것
일본에서 가장 심각하게 집계되는 것은 **곰으로 인한 ‘인명 피해(부상·사망)’ 사건**입니다. 환경성(MOE)이 **도도부현(광역 지자체)에서 취합한 ‘速報値(잠정치)’**를 공개하고, 이후 수정될 수 있습니다. ([env.go.jp][1])
다만 “곰 문제가 커졌다”는 말은 단순 공격만이 아니라 **주거지 출몰·상가 침입·농작물 피해·상습 출몰(습관화)**까지 포함하는 경우가 많고, 이런 요소들이 공격 전 단계에서 이미 지역 사회를 압박합니다. ([env.go.jp][1])
### 2) 일본의 곰 2종: 어떤 곰이냐에 따라 위험이 다르다
* **츠키노와구마(ツキノワグマ, 아시아흑곰)**: 혼슈 중심으로 넓게 분포, 전국 인명피해의 큰 비중을 차지합니다.
* **히구마(ヒグマ, 홋카이도 갈색곰 계열)**: 홋카이도 중심, 사건 수는 전국적으로 적어도 **체급이 커서 중상 위험이 큽니다.**
### 3) 최근 수치: “부상자 기록” + “사망 급증”(공식 잠정치)
환경성 공개 자료(잠정치)는 다음 흐름을 보여줍니다.
* **2023회계연도(令和5年度): 198건 / 219명 피해 / 사망 6명**(부상자 최다).
* **2024회계연도(令和6年度): 82건 / 85명 피해 / 사망 3명**.
* **2025회계연도(令和7年度, 2025년 11월 말까지): 209건 / 230명 피해 / 사망 13명**(연도 중간인데도 매우 큼, 잠정치).
같은 표에서 2025년 11월 말까지 종별로 보면 **츠키노와구마 224명 피해/사망 11명**, **히구마 6명 피해/사망 2명**으로, 전국 규모에서는 흑곰 피해 비중이 압도적입니다.
또한 환경성 위원회 자료에는 2025회계연도 초반(4–8월)만 해도 **출몰 1만 5,893건**, 인명피해·사망이 함께 보고될 정도로 출몰 기반 자체가 커졌다는 내용이 정리돼 있습니다. ([env.go.jp][2])
### 4) 왜 늘었나: 한 가지 원인이 아니라 “위험 요인 겹침”
**A. 산의 먹이(도토리·견과류) 흉작**
먹이가 부족하면 곰은 **마을·도시 가장자리로 먹이 반경을 넓힙니다.** 환경성은 2023회계연도(특히 도호쿠)에서 **견과류·도토리 흉작**이 인명피해 최다와 연동됐다고 명시합니다. ([env.go.jp][2])
**B. 지방 소멸·완충지대 붕괴(사토야마)**
인구 감소·농지 방치로 숲과 주거지 사이의 관리 공간이 줄어 **곰이 은폐된 채 접근**하기 쉬워졌다는 분석이 반복됩니다. ([가디언][3])
**C. 기후 요인: 활동 기간 연장**
따뜻한 기후는 곰의 활동 기간을 늘리고, 먹이 생산(견과류)에도 영향을 주어 **사람과 곰의 시간·공간 겹침을 확대**합니다. ([가디언][3])
**D. 유인원(쓰레기·과수·사료)**
곰이 “사람 주변=쉽게 먹을 수 있음”을 학습하면 재출몰 가능성이 커집니다. 홋카이도 지자체 자료들도 냄새 강한 음식·쓰레기 관리의 중요성을 반복 강조합니다. ([톱커마이시][4])
**E. 대응 인력·체계의 한계**
2025년에는 피해가 큰 지역(아키타 등)에서 포획 지원을 위해 병력이 투입되는 등 대응 부담이 커졌다는 보도도 나왔습니다. ([Reuters][5])
### 5) “공격”은 어떻게 발생하나(현실적으로 가장 많은 유형)
대부분은 “사냥하듯 사람을 노림”이 아니라,
* **숲속 근거리 돌발 조우**
* **새끼 보호·먹이(사체 포함) 방어**
* 사람이 **달리거나** 곰의 탈출로를 막아 **방어/추격 반응**이 커지는 경우
가 핵심입니다. ([홋카이도현][6])
### 6) 고위험 패턴(언제·어디·무엇을 할 때)
* **시기:** 늦여름~가을(겨울 전 폭식). ([Le Monde.fr][7])
* **시간:** 새벽/해질녘/야간. ([톱커마이시][4])
* **행동:** 버섯·산나물·죽순 채취, 산림 경계 러닝/산책, 혼자 외부 작업(배달 등). ([env.go.jp][2])
### 7) 일본 정부의 대응(제도 변화의 핵심)
환경성은 “주거지 출몰이 늘고, 기존 법은 **밀집 주거지에서의 총기 사용을 강하게 제한**해 교착 상황에서 신속 대응이 어렵다”는 점을 배경으로 들며 제도 정비를 설명합니다. ([env.go.jp][8])
개정 취지는 일정 요건(긴급성, 비총기 수단의 한계, 주민 대피·통제 등 안전 요건)을 충족하면 **지자체장이 ‘긴급 총기 포획(緊急銃猟, emergency shooting)’을 위탁·실시할 수 있도록** 하는 것입니다. ([env.go.jp][8])
### 8) 개인 안전 수칙: “예방”이 대부분을 결정한다
**A. 출발 전**
* 출몰 정보 확인(환경성 자료·지자체 공지). ([env.go.jp][1])
* 새벽/해질녘 회피, 단독·수풀 구간 최소화. ([톱커마이시][4])
* 소리(목소리·휘슬·방울)로 존재 알리기. ([톱커마이시][4])
* 냄새/쓰레기 철저 관리. ([톱커마이시][4])
**B. 곰을 봤을 때**
* 뛰지 말고, 등을 보이지 말고, **천천히 뒤로 물러나 거리 확보**. ([Nippon][9])
**C. 공격이 임박했을 때(최후 수단)**
* 전문가/공공 안내에서는 **엎드려(복와), 목·머리를 두 손으로 보호**하는 자세가 중상 위험을 줄일 수 있다는 지침이 반복됩니다. ([Nippon][9])
**D. 곰 스프레이**
시레토코(환경성) 안내는 곰 스프레이를 캡사이신 기반의 방어 도구로 설명하며, **사거리 3–4m**의 근거리에서 **눈·코를 겨냥해 전량 분사**, 그리고 **즉시 꺼낼 수 있도록 휴대**해야 한다고 명시합니다(“마지막 수단”). ([env.go.jp][11])
홋카이도 지자체 자료도 방울·휘슬과 함께 스프레이 휴대를 포함한 종합 대책을 소개합니다. ([톱커마이시][4])
### 9) 자주 하는 실수
* “일단 도망” (추격 유발 가능) ([Nippon][9])
* 조용히 단독 산행, 수풀·계곡길 새벽/해질녘 통과 ([톱커마이시][4])
* 쓰레기·과일·사료 방치 ([홋카이도현][6])
### 10) 역사적 맥락
1915년 홋카이도의 **삼모별(三毛別) 히구마 사건**은 “일본 최악의 맹수 피해”로 자주 언급되며, 오늘날에도 곰 대응 논의의 상징적 사례로 회자됩니다. ([town.tomamae.lg.jp][12])
---
## 日本語
### 1) 「クマ襲撃（人身被害）」とは
日本で議論される「クマ被害」の中核は、環境省が都道府県から聴取して公表する**人身被害（負傷・死亡）**の速報値です。数値は暫定で後日修正され得ます。 ([env.go.jp][1])
ただし実態としては、攻撃だけでなく**出没（市街地・住宅地・商業施設への侵入）、農作物被害、常習化した個体**などが一体でリスクを押し上げます。 ([env.go.jp][2])
### 2) 日本のクマは主に2タイプ
* **ツキノワグマ**（本州中心）：全国の人身被害の大半に関与。
* **ヒグマ**（北海道中心）：件数は全国的に少なくても、体格が大きく重篤化しやすい。
### 3) 近年の公式速報（環境省）
* **令和5年度：198件／219名／死亡6名**（過去最多の被害者数）。
* **令和6年度：82件／85名／死亡3名**。
* **令和7年度（11月末まで速報）：209件／230名／死亡13名**。
令和7年度（11月末まで）の内訳では、ツキノワグマの被害（224名・死亡11名）が中心で、ヒグマは6名・死亡2名とされています。
また環境省の審議資料では、令和7年度の4～8月だけで**出没1万5,893件**と、基礎となる出没圧が高い状況が示されています。 ([env.go.jp][2])
### 4) 増加要因（複合）
* **堅果類（ドングリ等）の凶作**：令和5年度、とくに東北で凶作だったことが過去最多の人身被害と関連づけて説明されています。 ([env.go.jp][2])
* **過疎化と緩衝帯の弱体化**：里地里山の管理低下で森林と生活圏の境界が曖昧に。 ([가디언][3])
* **気候影響**：活動期間が伸び、食物生産にも影響して遭遇機会が増える。 ([가디언][3])
* **誘引物（ゴミ・果樹・飼料）**：学習した個体が繰り返し市街地に入る。 ([홋카이도현][6])
* **対応能力の逼迫**：秋田での自衛隊支援（罠設置・点検支援）など、現場負荷の高さが報じられています。 ([Reuters][5])
### 5) 遭遇時の基本
* 走らない。
* クマに向いたまま**ゆっくり後退して距離を取る**。 ([Nippon][9])
* 最悪の場合の姿勢として、**うつ伏せで首・頭部を守る**方法が示されています。 ([Nippon][9])
### 6) クマスプレー（環境省の説明）
知床の環境省案内では、クマスプレーはカプサイシン系で、**射程3～4mの近距離で目・鼻を狙い一気に噴射**、素早く取り出せる携行が重要で、「最後の手段」と明記しています。 ([env.go.jp][11])
北海道の資料でも鈴・笛・時間帯回避などと組み合わせた総合対策が推奨されています。 ([톱커마이시][4])
### 7) 制度対応（緊急銃猟）
環境省は、生活圏への侵入増加を背景に、住居集合地域等での銃猟制限により迅速対応が難しい場面があるとして、一定要件下で市町村長が**緊急銃猟**を委託できる制度改正を説明しています。 ([env.go.jp][8])
---
## Español
### 1) Qué se entiende por “ataques de osos” en Japón
En Japón, la referencia más importante es el conteo oficial (preliminar) de **incidentes con víctimas humanas** que publica el **Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MOE)** a partir de reportes de las prefecturas. Las cifras pueden revisarse posteriormente. ([env.go.jp][1])
Además de ataques, el problema incluye **avistamientos en zonas residenciales, osos que entran a edificios, daños agrícolas y osos habituados a comida humana**, lo que eleva la probabilidad de encuentros peligrosos. ([env.go.jp][2])
### 2) Dos tipos de osos y dos perfiles de riesgo
* **Oso negro asiático (ツキノワグマ)**: ampliamente presente; concentra la mayoría de víctimas a nivel nacional.
* **Oso pardo (ヒグマ, Hokkaidō)**: menos incidentes nacionales, pero mayor tamaño y potencial de lesiones graves.
### 3) Tendencia reciente (cifras oficiales preliminares)
* **FY2023:** **198 incidentes / 219 víctimas / 6 muertes** (máximo histórico de víctimas).
* **FY2024:** **82 / 85 / 3**.
* **FY2025 hasta fin de noviembre de 2025:** **209 / 230 / 13** (muy alto incluso antes de terminar el año fiscal).
En FY2025 (hasta fin de noviembre), el propio cuadro del MOE indica que la mayoría corresponde al **oso negro asiático** (224 víctimas / 11 muertes), frente al **oso pardo** (6 víctimas / 2 muertes).
### 4) Por qué suben los encuentros: factores que se refuerzan
* **Fallo de “mast” (escasez de bellotas/nueces)**: el MOE vincula el récord de FY2023 con malas cosechas de bellotas en el noreste (Tōhoku). ([env.go.jp][2])
* **Despoblación rural y pérdida de “zona tampón”**: menos agricultura y menos actividad humana en bordes de bosque facilitan que el oso se acerque sin ser detectado. ([가디언][3])
* **Clima**: temporadas activas más largas y presión alimentaria. ([가디언][3])
* **Atractivos humanos** (basura, fruta caída, pienso, comida de mascotas): aprendizaje y reincidencia. ([홋카이도현][6])
* **Capacidad de respuesta**: en 2025 se reportan medidas excepcionales para apoyar el trampeo en Akita. ([Reuters][5])
### 5) Prevención y conducta (lo que más reduce el riesgo)
* Evita amanecer/atardecer en bordes de bosque; no vayas solo por vegetación cerrada. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Haz ruido (voz, silbato, campana) en zonas de baja visibilidad. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Si ves un oso: **no corras**; retrocede lentamente manteniéndolo a la vista y deja una ruta de escape. ([Nippon][9])
* En último extremo: guías citadas recomiendan **tumbarse boca abajo y proteger cuello/cabeza** para reducir lesiones graves. ([Nippon][9])
### 6) Spray anti-osos (descripción oficial en Japón)
En Shiretoko, el MOE describe el spray de capsaicina como herramienta de **muy corta distancia (3–4 m)**, apuntando a **ojos y nariz**, y llevándolo en una funda para extracción inmediata; se recalca que es un **recurso final**, no sustituto de la prevención. ([env.go.jp][11])
### 7) Respuesta gubernamental: “emergency shooting”
El MOE explica una reforma para permitir respuestas más rápidas cuando osos invaden áreas de vida cotidiana, bajo condiciones estrictas de seguridad (evacuación, control de tráfico, ausencia de riesgo balístico, etc.). ([env.go.jp][8])
---
## Français
### 1) Ce que recouvrent les « attaques d’ours » au Japon
Au Japon, l’indicateur le plus sérieux est le nombre d’**incidents avec victimes humaines** (blessés, décès) publié par le **ministère japonais de l’Environnement (MOE)**, sur la base de remontées préfectorales. Il s’agit de **chiffres provisoires** susceptibles d’être révisés. ([env.go.jp][1])
Le « problème des ours » inclut aussi les **apparitions en zone urbaine, intrusions dans des bâtiments, dégâts agricoles et comportements d’habituation à la nourriture humaine**, qui augmentent le risque d’incidents graves. ([env.go.jp][2])
### 2) Deux espèces, deux niveaux de danger
* **Ours noir asiatique (ツキノワグマ)** : très présent; principal contributeur aux victimes au niveau national.
* **Ours brun (ヒグマ, Hokkaidō)** : moins d’incidents à l’échelle nationale, mais gabarit plus imposant et risque de traumatismes sévères.
### 3) Situation récente (données officielles provisoires)
* **Exercice 2023 (FY2023)** : **198 incidents / 219 victimes / 6 décès** (record de victimes).
* **FY2024** : **82 / 85 / 3**.
* **FY2025 jusqu’à fin novembre 2025** : **209 / 230 / 13** (niveau exceptionnel avant même la fin de l’exercice).
Le même tableau indique que, sur FY2025 (jusqu’à fin novembre), l’essentiel des victimes provient de l’**ours noir asiatique** (224 victimes / 11 décès), l’**ours brun** représentant 6 victimes / 2 décès.
### 4) Pourquoi ça augmente : un empilement de facteurs
* **Pénurie de nourriture en forêt (glands/faînes)** : le MOE relie le pic de FY2023, notamment au Tōhoku, à une mauvaise production de glands (“ドングリが凶作”). ([env.go.jp][2])
* **Dépeuplement rural et disparition des zones tampons** : frontières forêt/habitat plus perméables. ([가디언][3])
* **Effets climatiques** : saison d’activité plus longue et pression alimentaire accrue. ([가디언][3])
* **Attractifs humains** (poubelles, fruits, aliments pour animaux) : apprentissage et récidive. ([홋카이도현][6])
* **Capacité opérationnelle** : en 2025, certaines zones ont demandé un soutien exceptionnel pour le piégeage (cas d’Akita). ([Reuters][5])
### 5) Sécurité individuelle : ce qui compte vraiment
* Éviter l’aube/le crépuscule dans les lisières et ne pas partir seul en zones fermées. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Se signaler (voix, sifflet, clochette) dans les zones à faible visibilité. ([톱커마이시][4])
* En cas de rencontre : **ne pas courir**, reculer lentement en gardant l’animal en vue, laisser une issue. ([Nippon][9])
* En dernier recours : recommandations récurrentes de **se coucher face au sol et protéger la nuque/la tête** pour réduire la gravité des blessures. ([Nippon][9])
### 6) Spray anti-ours (description officielle)
Le MOE (Shiretoko) décrit le spray au capsaïcine comme efficace uniquement à **très courte distance (3–4 m)**, en visant **yeux/nez**, à porter dans un étui accessible; c’est une **solution de dernier recours**, jamais un substitut à la prévention. ([env.go.jp][11])
### 7) Mesures publiques : « tirs d’urgence »
Le MOE a expliqué une réforme permettant, sous conditions strictes de sécurité (évacuation, contrôle des accès, absence de risque balistique), de recourir à des **tirs d’urgence** lorsque des ours envahissent les zones de vie quotidienne. ([env.go.jp][8])
---
* [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/japan-sends-troops-combat-deadly-wave-bear-attacks-2025-11-05/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [가디언](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/06/japan-searching-for-cause-of-surge-of-bear-attacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [가디언](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/23/japan-relaxes-bear-shooting-laws-amid-rise-in-attacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [Le Monde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2025/10/26/japan-still-in-love-with-bears-despite-increasingly-frequent-and-deadly-attacks_6746779_114.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [People.com](https://people.com/bear-mauls-security-guard-public-restroom-japan-11858575?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/20/bears-japan-akita-asiatic/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [thetimes.com](https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/dont-fall-for-ai-generated-bear-videos-experts-warn-japan-tsmhsgvv2?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[1]: https://www.env.go.jp/nature/choju/effort/effort12/effort12.html "クマに関する各種情報・取組 || 野生鳥獣の保護及び管理[環境省]"
[2]: https://www.env.go.jp/council/12nature/y125-29a_00008.html "野生生物小委員会(令和７年度 第36回) 議事録 | 環境省"
[3]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/06/japan-searching-for-cause-of-surge-of-bear-attacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com "As Japan experiences a surge in bear attacks, survivors share grisly stories of blood, bites and broken bones"
[4]: https://www.city.tomakomai.hokkaido.jp/files/00002600/00002605/higuma%5B1%5D.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ヒグマによる事故防止のために"
[5]: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/japan-sends-troops-combat-deadly-wave-bear-attacks-2025-11-05/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Japan dispatches troops to help combat deadly bear attacks"
[6]: https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/fs/1/2/2/1/9/6/6/5/_/%E3%83%92%E3%82%B0%E3%83%9E%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E8%A8%88%E7%94%BB%28%E7%AC%AC2%E6%9C%9F%29%E6%A6%82%E8%A6%81%E7%89%88%28%E5%85%A8%E9%A0%81%29.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "人とヒグマをすみ分け 地域のくらし をまもる - 北海道庁"
[7]: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2025/10/26/japan-still-in-love-with-bears-despite-increasingly-frequent-and-deadly-attacks_6746779_114.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Japan is still in love with bears, despite increasingly frequent and deadly attacks"
[8]: https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04458.html "鳥獣の保護及び管理並びに狩猟の適正化に関する法律の一部を改正する法律案の閣議決定について | 報道発表資料 | 環境省"
[9]: https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d01181/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Japanese Bear Expert Sounds Alarm Over Increase in ..."
[10]: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231025/p2a/00m/0na/002000c?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Action needed over 'unprecedented' annual pace of bear ..."
[11]: https://www.env.go.jp/park/shiretoko/guide/sirecoco/rental/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ヒグマ対策アイテム紹介"
[12]: https://www.town.tomamae.lg.jp/section/shokouroudou/lg6iib00000009m4.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "三毛別ヒグマ事件の概要 | 商工労働観光課 | 北海道苫前町"
# 일본 곰 습격: 왜 늘어났나, 지금 무슨 일이 벌어지나, 어떻게 안전해지나
---
## English
### 1) What “bear attacks in Japan” usually means
In Japan, the most serious category is **human-injury incidents** (people bitten/clawed, sometimes fatal). These are tracked by the **Ministry of the Environment (MOE)** as monthly/annual “速報値 (preliminary)” compiled from prefectures, and later may be revised. ([env.go.jp][1])
Japan’s “bear problem” is broader than attacks: it includes **sightings near homes, bears entering towns, crop damage, and repeated nuisance behavior**. These drive emergency responses even before anyone is injured. ([env.go.jp][1])
### 2) The two bear species involved (and why it matters)
Japan has two native bear types that create different risk profiles:
* **Asian black bear (ツキノワグマ)**: found across much of Honshu and parts of Shikoku; most injury cases nationwide are linked to this species.
* **Brown bear (ヒグマ / Ezo brown bear in Hokkaido)**: mainly Hokkaido; fewer incidents nationally, but **larger body size** makes high-severity encounters a serious concern.
### 3) Recent trend: record injuries and unusually high fatalities (official figures)
MOE’s published preliminary totals show a clear surge:
* **FY2023 (Reiwa 5):** **198 incidents / 219 victims / 6 deaths** (record-high injuries).
* **FY2024 (Reiwa 6):** **82 incidents / 85 victims / 3 deaths** (down from the peak).
* **FY2025 to end-Nov 2025 (Reiwa 7, “R07年11月末”):** **209 incidents / 230 victims / 13 deaths** (already extremely high, and explicitly labeled preliminary).
Species breakdown (same MOE sheet, FY2025 to end-Nov 2025) indicates most victims are from **Asian black bears (ツキノワグマ 224 victims / 11 deaths)** versus **brown bears (ヒグマ 6 victims / 2 deaths)**.
MOE’s own committee materials also show **very high sighting volumes early in FY2025** (e.g., **15,893 sightings April–Aug**, plus dozens of injury cases and multiple deaths in that period). ([env.go.jp][2])
### 4) Why encounters and attacks are rising (the real drivers)
This is not “one cause.” It’s a stacked risk system where several trends reinforce each other:
**A. Food shocks in the mountains (mast failure)**
When key wild foods—especially **acorns and beechnuts**—fail, bears expand their foraging radius into villages and towns. MOE explicitly notes that in FY2023, particularly in Tohoku, **poor nut crops (“ドングリが凶作”)** coincided with the record injury year. ([env.go.jp][2])
International reporting in 2025 repeatedly points to the same mechanism (poor acorn/beechnut crops) as a major factor behind the current surge. ([가디언][3])
**B. Rural depopulation and “blurred boundaries” (satoyama effect)**
As farmland is abandoned and communities shrink, the managed buffer between forest and settlement weakens. Bears can approach more quietly, find more cover, and discover human food sources more easily. ([가디언][3])
**C. Climate effects: longer active seasons + disrupted hibernation timing**
Warmer conditions can lengthen periods when bears remain active and searching for calories, increasing overlap with human activity—especially in late summer to autumn. ([가디언][3])
**D. Attractants: garbage, compost, fruit trees, livestock feed, pet food**
Once a bear learns that towns equal easy calories, it may repeat the behavior and become harder to deter. Local government guidance in Hokkaido explicitly warns about strong-smelling foods and emphasizes strict food/garbage control alongside noise and group travel. ([톱커마이시][4])
**E. Response capacity constraints (hunters, rapid control)**
Japan’s ability to respond depends heavily on licensed hunters and local systems. In 2025, multiple reports describe stretched local capacity, including extraordinary measures such as troop deployment for trapping support in Akita. ([Reuters][5])
### 5) How “bear attacks” typically happen in Japan
Most injury events are not “predatory hunting.” They are **close-range surprise encounters** or **defensive reactions**, often triggered by:
* Sudden contact in thick vegetation, poor visibility, near rivers, or during bad weather
* Approaching a **mother with cubs** or a bear protecting a food source (including carcasses)
* Human behavior that escalates: **running**, turning your back, or crowding the bear’s escape route ([홋카이도현][6])
### 6) High-risk times, places, and activities (practical pattern)
* **Seasonality:** late summer through autumn is especially risky because bears intensify feeding before winter. ([Le Monde.fr][7])
* **Time of day:** early morning / dusk / night increase overlap. ([톱커마이시][4])
* **Activities:** mushroom gathering, bamboo shoot collecting, trail running, dog walking near forest edges, and work that puts people alone outside (e.g., deliveries) appear repeatedly in official summaries of fatal incidents. ([env.go.jp][2])
* **Geography:** northern and northeastern prefectures (and Hokkaido) are repeatedly highlighted as hotspots in 2025 coverage and official incident summaries. ([Reuters][5])
### 7) What Japan is doing (policy and emergency response)
Because bears increasingly enter “daily living areas,” Japan has moved to enable **faster armed response under strict conditions**.
MOE explains the background clearly: wildlife (notably bears and boars) entering residential/populated areas has increased, and the existing law restricts gun use in concentrated residential areas—creating delays in “standoff” scenarios (e.g., a bear inside/near buildings). ([env.go.jp][8])
Key reform: **municipal mayors can authorize “emergency shooting”** when (i) urgent harm prevention is needed, (ii) non-gun methods cannot respond swiftly, and (iii) evacuation/controls remove bullet-risk to residents. ([env.go.jp][8])
In parallel, 2025 reporting describes field measures such as trapping operations and logistical support (including troop assistance for trap setup/inspection in Akita), reflecting the severity of the current wave. ([Reuters][5])
### 8) Personal safety: prevention is the real “winning strategy”
**A. Before you go (hiking, camping, rural travel)**
1. **Check local alerts** (prefecture/municipal bear sighting pages; MOE publishes national materials and references). ([env.go.jp][1])
2. Avoid **dawn/dusk** routes and lone travel in dense cover. ([톱커마이시][4])
3. **Make your presence known** (voice, whistle, bell) especially in blind corners, loud streams, thick brush. ([톱커마이시][4])
4. **Control scent and food**: keep snacks sealed; never leave food/garbage outside; don’t carry strongly scented items loosely. ([톱커마이시][4])
**B. If you see a bear (most important behaviors)**
* **Do not run.**
* **Back away slowly** while facing the bear; give it an escape route. ([Nippon][9])
* If the bear does not leave, keep distance; avoid cornering it; do not approach for photos. ([마이니치 신문][10])
**C. If the bear approaches or an attack seems imminent**
* Official and expert guidance commonly emphasizes a last-resort posture: **lie face down, protect the neck and head with both hands**, reducing severe injury risk in many cases. ([Nippon][9])
**D. Bear spray (what it is, how it’s used, and limitations)**
Japan’s national-park guidance in Shiretoko describes bear spray as a capsaicin-based tool that can be effective **only at very close range**, roughly **3–4 meters**, aimed at **eyes and nose**, and carried where it can be drawn instantly (holster at waist, etc.). It explicitly calls it a “last resort,” not a substitute for prevention. ([env.go.jp][11])
Local Hokkaido materials also reference bear-spray carry as part of a broader safety kit, alongside bells/whistles and time-of-day planning. ([톱커마이시][4])
### 9) “Common mistakes” that increase injury severity
* Trying to **outrun** a bear (you cannot).
* Turning your back and sprinting (can trigger pursuit). ([Nippon][9])
* Hiking silently, alone, at dawn/dusk through dense vegetation. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Leaving attractants: open trash, compost, fallen fruit, pet food. ([홋카이도현][6])
### 10) A historical note: Japan has lived with “bear disasters” for a long time
The most famous historical case is the **1915 Sankebetsu brown bear incident** in Hokkaido, where a brown bear killed multiple people over several days—still widely referenced in Japan’s discussion of bear risk and community preparedness. ([town.tomamae.lg.jp][12])
---
## 한국어
### 1) “일본 곰 습격”이 의미하는 것
일본에서 가장 심각하게 집계되는 것은 **곰으로 인한 ‘인명 피해(부상·사망)’ 사건**입니다. 환경성(MOE)이 **도도부현(광역 지자체)에서 취합한 ‘速報値(잠정치)’**를 공개하고, 이후 수정될 수 있습니다. ([env.go.jp][1])
다만 “곰 문제가 커졌다”는 말은 단순 공격만이 아니라 **주거지 출몰·상가 침입·농작물 피해·상습 출몰(습관화)**까지 포함하는 경우가 많고, 이런 요소들이 공격 전 단계에서 이미 지역 사회를 압박합니다. ([env.go.jp][1])
### 2) 일본의 곰 2종: 어떤 곰이냐에 따라 위험이 다르다
* **츠키노와구마(ツキノワグマ, 아시아흑곰)**: 혼슈 중심으로 넓게 분포, 전국 인명피해의 큰 비중을 차지합니다.
* **히구마(ヒグマ, 홋카이도 갈색곰 계열)**: 홋카이도 중심, 사건 수는 전국적으로 적어도 **체급이 커서 중상 위험이 큽니다.**
### 3) 최근 수치: “부상자 기록” + “사망 급증”(공식 잠정치)
환경성 공개 자료(잠정치)는 다음 흐름을 보여줍니다.
* **2023회계연도(令和5年度): 198건 / 219명 피해 / 사망 6명**(부상자 최다).
* **2024회계연도(令和6年度): 82건 / 85명 피해 / 사망 3명**.
* **2025회계연도(令和7年度, 2025년 11월 말까지): 209건 / 230명 피해 / 사망 13명**(연도 중간인데도 매우 큼, 잠정치).
같은 표에서 2025년 11월 말까지 종별로 보면 **츠키노와구마 224명 피해/사망 11명**, **히구마 6명 피해/사망 2명**으로, 전국 규모에서는 흑곰 피해 비중이 압도적입니다.
또한 환경성 위원회 자료에는 2025회계연도 초반(4–8월)만 해도 **출몰 1만 5,893건**, 인명피해·사망이 함께 보고될 정도로 출몰 기반 자체가 커졌다는 내용이 정리돼 있습니다. ([env.go.jp][2])
### 4) 왜 늘었나: 한 가지 원인이 아니라 “위험 요인 겹침”
**A. 산의 먹이(도토리·견과류) 흉작**
먹이가 부족하면 곰은 **마을·도시 가장자리로 먹이 반경을 넓힙니다.** 환경성은 2023회계연도(특히 도호쿠)에서 **견과류·도토리 흉작**이 인명피해 최다와 연동됐다고 명시합니다. ([env.go.jp][2])
**B. 지방 소멸·완충지대 붕괴(사토야마)**
인구 감소·농지 방치로 숲과 주거지 사이의 관리 공간이 줄어 **곰이 은폐된 채 접근**하기 쉬워졌다는 분석이 반복됩니다. ([가디언][3])
**C. 기후 요인: 활동 기간 연장**
따뜻한 기후는 곰의 활동 기간을 늘리고, 먹이 생산(견과류)에도 영향을 주어 **사람과 곰의 시간·공간 겹침을 확대**합니다. ([가디언][3])
**D. 유인원(쓰레기·과수·사료)**
곰이 “사람 주변=쉽게 먹을 수 있음”을 학습하면 재출몰 가능성이 커집니다. 홋카이도 지자체 자료들도 냄새 강한 음식·쓰레기 관리의 중요성을 반복 강조합니다. ([톱커마이시][4])
**E. 대응 인력·체계의 한계**
2025년에는 피해가 큰 지역(아키타 등)에서 포획 지원을 위해 병력이 투입되는 등 대응 부담이 커졌다는 보도도 나왔습니다. ([Reuters][5])
### 5) “공격”은 어떻게 발생하나(현실적으로 가장 많은 유형)
대부분은 “사냥하듯 사람을 노림”이 아니라,
* **숲속 근거리 돌발 조우**
* **새끼 보호·먹이(사체 포함) 방어**
* 사람이 **달리거나** 곰의 탈출로를 막아 **방어/추격 반응**이 커지는 경우
가 핵심입니다. ([홋카이도현][6])
### 6) 고위험 패턴(언제·어디·무엇을 할 때)
* **시기:** 늦여름~가을(겨울 전 폭식). ([Le Monde.fr][7])
* **시간:** 새벽/해질녘/야간. ([톱커마이시][4])
* **행동:** 버섯·산나물·죽순 채취, 산림 경계 러닝/산책, 혼자 외부 작업(배달 등). ([env.go.jp][2])
### 7) 일본 정부의 대응(제도 변화의 핵심)
환경성은 “주거지 출몰이 늘고, 기존 법은 **밀집 주거지에서의 총기 사용을 강하게 제한**해 교착 상황에서 신속 대응이 어렵다”는 점을 배경으로 들며 제도 정비를 설명합니다. ([env.go.jp][8])
개정 취지는 일정 요건(긴급성, 비총기 수단의 한계, 주민 대피·통제 등 안전 요건)을 충족하면 **지자체장이 ‘긴급 총기 포획(緊急銃猟, emergency shooting)’을 위탁·실시할 수 있도록** 하는 것입니다. ([env.go.jp][8])
### 8) 개인 안전 수칙: “예방”이 대부분을 결정한다
**A. 출발 전**
* 출몰 정보 확인(환경성 자료·지자체 공지). ([env.go.jp][1])
* 새벽/해질녘 회피, 단독·수풀 구간 최소화. ([톱커마이시][4])
* 소리(목소리·휘슬·방울)로 존재 알리기. ([톱커마이시][4])
* 냄새/쓰레기 철저 관리. ([톱커마이시][4])
**B. 곰을 봤을 때**
* 뛰지 말고, 등을 보이지 말고, **천천히 뒤로 물러나 거리 확보**. ([Nippon][9])
**C. 공격이 임박했을 때(최후 수단)**
* 전문가/공공 안내에서는 **엎드려(복와), 목·머리를 두 손으로 보호**하는 자세가 중상 위험을 줄일 수 있다는 지침이 반복됩니다. ([Nippon][9])
**D. 곰 스프레이**
시레토코(환경성) 안내는 곰 스프레이를 캡사이신 기반의 방어 도구로 설명하며, **사거리 3–4m**의 근거리에서 **눈·코를 겨냥해 전량 분사**, 그리고 **즉시 꺼낼 수 있도록 휴대**해야 한다고 명시합니다(“마지막 수단”). ([env.go.jp][11])
홋카이도 지자체 자료도 방울·휘슬과 함께 스프레이 휴대를 포함한 종합 대책을 소개합니다. ([톱커마이시][4])
### 9) 자주 하는 실수
* “일단 도망” (추격 유발 가능) ([Nippon][9])
* 조용히 단독 산행, 수풀·계곡길 새벽/해질녘 통과 ([톱커마이시][4])
* 쓰레기·과일·사료 방치 ([홋카이도현][6])
### 10) 역사적 맥락
1915년 홋카이도의 **삼모별(三毛別) 히구마 사건**은 “일본 최악의 맹수 피해”로 자주 언급되며, 오늘날에도 곰 대응 논의의 상징적 사례로 회자됩니다. ([town.tomamae.lg.jp][12])
---
## 日本語
### 1) 「クマ襲撃（人身被害）」とは
日本で議論される「クマ被害」の中核は、環境省が都道府県から聴取して公表する**人身被害（負傷・死亡）**の速報値です。数値は暫定で後日修正され得ます。 ([env.go.jp][1])
ただし実態としては、攻撃だけでなく**出没（市街地・住宅地・商業施設への侵入）、農作物被害、常習化した個体**などが一体でリスクを押し上げます。 ([env.go.jp][2])
### 2) 日本のクマは主に2タイプ
* **ツキノワグマ**（本州中心）：全国の人身被害の大半に関与。
* **ヒグマ**（北海道中心）：件数は全国的に少なくても、体格が大きく重篤化しやすい。
### 3) 近年の公式速報（環境省）
* **令和5年度：198件／219名／死亡6名**（過去最多の被害者数）。
* **令和6年度：82件／85名／死亡3名**。
* **令和7年度（11月末まで速報）：209件／230名／死亡13名**。
令和7年度（11月末まで）の内訳では、ツキノワグマの被害（224名・死亡11名）が中心で、ヒグマは6名・死亡2名とされています。
また環境省の審議資料では、令和7年度の4～8月だけで**出没1万5,893件**と、基礎となる出没圧が高い状況が示されています。 ([env.go.jp][2])
### 4) 増加要因（複合）
* **堅果類（ドングリ等）の凶作**：令和5年度、とくに東北で凶作だったことが過去最多の人身被害と関連づけて説明されています。 ([env.go.jp][2])
* **過疎化と緩衝帯の弱体化**：里地里山の管理低下で森林と生活圏の境界が曖昧に。 ([가디언][3])
* **気候影響**：活動期間が伸び、食物生産にも影響して遭遇機会が増える。 ([가디언][3])
* **誘引物（ゴミ・果樹・飼料）**：学習した個体が繰り返し市街地に入る。 ([홋카이도현][6])
* **対応能力の逼迫**：秋田での自衛隊支援（罠設置・点検支援）など、現場負荷の高さが報じられています。 ([Reuters][5])
### 5) 遭遇時の基本
* 走らない。
* クマに向いたまま**ゆっくり後退して距離を取る**。 ([Nippon][9])
* 最悪の場合の姿勢として、**うつ伏せで首・頭部を守る**方法が示されています。 ([Nippon][9])
### 6) クマスプレー（環境省の説明）
知床の環境省案内では、クマスプレーはカプサイシン系で、**射程3～4mの近距離で目・鼻を狙い一気に噴射**、素早く取り出せる携行が重要で、「最後の手段」と明記しています。 ([env.go.jp][11])
北海道の資料でも鈴・笛・時間帯回避などと組み合わせた総合対策が推奨されています。 ([톱커마이시][4])
### 7) 制度対応（緊急銃猟）
環境省は、生活圏への侵入増加を背景に、住居集合地域等での銃猟制限により迅速対応が難しい場面があるとして、一定要件下で市町村長が**緊急銃猟**を委託できる制度改正を説明しています。 ([env.go.jp][8])
---
## Español
### 1) Qué se entiende por “ataques de osos” en Japón
En Japón, la referencia más importante es el conteo oficial (preliminar) de **incidentes con víctimas humanas** que publica el **Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MOE)** a partir de reportes de las prefecturas. Las cifras pueden revisarse posteriormente. ([env.go.jp][1])
Además de ataques, el problema incluye **avistamientos en zonas residenciales, osos que entran a edificios, daños agrícolas y osos habituados a comida humana**, lo que eleva la probabilidad de encuentros peligrosos. ([env.go.jp][2])
### 2) Dos tipos de osos y dos perfiles de riesgo
* **Oso negro asiático (ツキノワグマ)**: ampliamente presente; concentra la mayoría de víctimas a nivel nacional.
* **Oso pardo (ヒグマ, Hokkaidō)**: menos incidentes nacionales, pero mayor tamaño y potencial de lesiones graves.
### 3) Tendencia reciente (cifras oficiales preliminares)
* **FY2023:** **198 incidentes / 219 víctimas / 6 muertes** (máximo histórico de víctimas).
* **FY2024:** **82 / 85 / 3**.
* **FY2025 hasta fin de noviembre de 2025:** **209 / 230 / 13** (muy alto incluso antes de terminar el año fiscal).
En FY2025 (hasta fin de noviembre), el propio cuadro del MOE indica que la mayoría corresponde al **oso negro asiático** (224 víctimas / 11 muertes), frente al **oso pardo** (6 víctimas / 2 muertes).
### 4) Por qué suben los encuentros: factores que se refuerzan
* **Fallo de “mast” (escasez de bellotas/nueces)**: el MOE vincula el récord de FY2023 con malas cosechas de bellotas en el noreste (Tōhoku). ([env.go.jp][2])
* **Despoblación rural y pérdida de “zona tampón”**: menos agricultura y menos actividad humana en bordes de bosque facilitan que el oso se acerque sin ser detectado. ([가디언][3])
* **Clima**: temporadas activas más largas y presión alimentaria. ([가디언][3])
* **Atractivos humanos** (basura, fruta caída, pienso, comida de mascotas): aprendizaje y reincidencia. ([홋카이도현][6])
* **Capacidad de respuesta**: en 2025 se reportan medidas excepcionales para apoyar el trampeo en Akita. ([Reuters][5])
### 5) Prevención y conducta (lo que más reduce el riesgo)
* Evita amanecer/atardecer en bordes de bosque; no vayas solo por vegetación cerrada. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Haz ruido (voz, silbato, campana) en zonas de baja visibilidad. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Si ves un oso: **no corras**; retrocede lentamente manteniéndolo a la vista y deja una ruta de escape. ([Nippon][9])
* En último extremo: guías citadas recomiendan **tumbarse boca abajo y proteger cuello/cabeza** para reducir lesiones graves. ([Nippon][9])
### 6) Spray anti-osos (descripción oficial en Japón)
En Shiretoko, el MOE describe el spray de capsaicina como herramienta de **muy corta distancia (3–4 m)**, apuntando a **ojos y nariz**, y llevándolo en una funda para extracción inmediata; se recalca que es un **recurso final**, no sustituto de la prevención. ([env.go.jp][11])
### 7) Respuesta gubernamental: “emergency shooting”
El MOE explica una reforma para permitir respuestas más rápidas cuando osos invaden áreas de vida cotidiana, bajo condiciones estrictas de seguridad (evacuación, control de tráfico, ausencia de riesgo balístico, etc.). ([env.go.jp][8])
---
## Français
### 1) Ce que recouvrent les « attaques d’ours » au Japon
Au Japon, l’indicateur le plus sérieux est le nombre d’**incidents avec victimes humaines** (blessés, décès) publié par le **ministère japonais de l’Environnement (MOE)**, sur la base de remontées préfectorales. Il s’agit de **chiffres provisoires** susceptibles d’être révisés. ([env.go.jp][1])
Le « problème des ours » inclut aussi les **apparitions en zone urbaine, intrusions dans des bâtiments, dégâts agricoles et comportements d’habituation à la nourriture humaine**, qui augmentent le risque d’incidents graves. ([env.go.jp][2])
### 2) Deux espèces, deux niveaux de danger
* **Ours noir asiatique (ツキノワグマ)** : très présent; principal contributeur aux victimes au niveau national.
* **Ours brun (ヒグマ, Hokkaidō)** : moins d’incidents à l’échelle nationale, mais gabarit plus imposant et risque de traumatismes sévères.
### 3) Situation récente (données officielles provisoires)
* **Exercice 2023 (FY2023)** : **198 incidents / 219 victimes / 6 décès** (record de victimes).
* **FY2024** : **82 / 85 / 3**.
* **FY2025 jusqu’à fin novembre 2025** : **209 / 230 / 13** (niveau exceptionnel avant même la fin de l’exercice).
Le même tableau indique que, sur FY2025 (jusqu’à fin novembre), l’essentiel des victimes provient de l’**ours noir asiatique** (224 victimes / 11 décès), l’**ours brun** représentant 6 victimes / 2 décès.
### 4) Pourquoi ça augmente : un empilement de facteurs
* **Pénurie de nourriture en forêt (glands/faînes)** : le MOE relie le pic de FY2023, notamment au Tōhoku, à une mauvaise production de glands (“ドングリが凶作”). ([env.go.jp][2])
* **Dépeuplement rural et disparition des zones tampons** : frontières forêt/habitat plus perméables. ([가디언][3])
* **Effets climatiques** : saison d’activité plus longue et pression alimentaire accrue. ([가디언][3])
* **Attractifs humains** (poubelles, fruits, aliments pour animaux) : apprentissage et récidive. ([홋카이도현][6])
* **Capacité opérationnelle** : en 2025, certaines zones ont demandé un soutien exceptionnel pour le piégeage (cas d’Akita). ([Reuters][5])
### 5) Sécurité individuelle : ce qui compte vraiment
* Éviter l’aube/le crépuscule dans les lisières et ne pas partir seul en zones fermées. ([톱커마이시][4])
* Se signaler (voix, sifflet, clochette) dans les zones à faible visibilité. ([톱커마이시][4])
* En cas de rencontre : **ne pas courir**, reculer lentement en gardant l’animal en vue, laisser une issue. ([Nippon][9])
* En dernier recours : recommandations récurrentes de **se coucher face au sol et protéger la nuque/la tête** pour réduire la gravité des blessures. ([Nippon][9])
### 6) Spray anti-ours (description officielle)
Le MOE (Shiretoko) décrit le spray au capsaïcine comme efficace uniquement à **très courte distance (3–4 m)**, en visant **yeux/nez**, à porter dans un étui accessible; c’est une **solution de dernier recours**, jamais un substitut à la prévention. ([env.go.jp][11])
### 7) Mesures publiques : « tirs d’urgence »
Le MOE a expliqué une réforme permettant, sous conditions strictes de sécurité (évacuation, contrôle des accès, absence de risque balistique), de recourir à des **tirs d’urgence** lorsque des ours envahissent les zones de vie quotidienne. ([env.go.jp][8])
---
* [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/japan-sends-troops-combat-deadly-wave-bear-attacks-2025-11-05/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [가디언](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/06/japan-searching-for-cause-of-surge-of-bear-attacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [가디언](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/23/japan-relaxes-bear-shooting-laws-amid-rise-in-attacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [Le Monde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2025/10/26/japan-still-in-love-with-bears-despite-increasingly-frequent-and-deadly-attacks_6746779_114.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [People.com](https://people.com/bear-mauls-security-guard-public-restroom-japan-11858575?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/20/bears-japan-akita-asiatic/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [thetimes.com](https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/dont-fall-for-ai-generated-bear-videos-experts-warn-japan-tsmhsgvv2?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[1]: https://www.env.go.jp/nature/choju/effort/effort12/effort12.html "クマに関する各種情報・取組 || 野生鳥獣の保護及び管理[環境省]"
[2]: https://www.env.go.jp/council/12nature/y125-29a_00008.html "野生生物小委員会(令和７年度 第36回) 議事録 | 環境省"
[3]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/06/japan-searching-for-cause-of-surge-of-bear-attacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com "As Japan experiences a surge in bear attacks, survivors share grisly stories of blood, bites and broken bones"
[4]: https://www.city.tomakomai.hokkaido.jp/files/00002600/00002605/higuma%5B1%5D.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ヒグマによる事故防止のために"
[5]: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/japan-sends-troops-combat-deadly-wave-bear-attacks-2025-11-05/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Japan dispatches troops to help combat deadly bear attacks"
[6]: https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/fs/1/2/2/1/9/6/6/5/_/%E3%83%92%E3%82%B0%E3%83%9E%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E8%A8%88%E7%94%BB%28%E7%AC%AC2%E6%9C%9F%29%E6%A6%82%E8%A6%81%E7%89%88%28%E5%85%A8%E9%A0%81%29.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "人とヒグマをすみ分け 地域のくらし をまもる - 北海道庁"
[7]: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2025/10/26/japan-still-in-love-with-bears-despite-increasingly-frequent-and-deadly-attacks_6746779_114.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Japan is still in love with bears, despite increasingly frequent and deadly attacks"
[8]: https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04458.html "鳥獣の保護及び管理並びに狩猟の適正化に関する法律の一部を改正する法律案の閣議決定について | 報道発表資料 | 環境省"
[9]: https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d01181/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Japanese Bear Expert Sounds Alarm Over Increase in ..."
[10]: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231025/p2a/00m/0na/002000c?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Action needed over 'unprecedented' annual pace of bear ..."
[11]: https://www.env.go.jp/park/shiretoko/guide/sirecoco/rental/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ヒグマ対策アイテム紹介"
[12]: https://www.town.tomamae.lg.jp/section/shokouroudou/lg6iib00000009m4.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "三毛別ヒグマ事件の概要 | 商工労働観光課 | 北海道苫前町"