TOKYO — Tokyo is preparing to reverse a nearly two-decade-old ban on hunting Asian black bears, as authorities confront a sharp rise in sightings and growing concerns over encounters between bears and people.
Under a new five-year bear management plan endorsed by an expert panel on Sept. 1, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to allow limited hunting beginning in April 2027, with a target of removing about 34 bears a year.
The proposed policy marks a major shift from Tokyo’s conservation approach since 2008, when hunting the species was prohibited because of concerns over its declining population.
But officials say the situation has changed.
Bear sightings in Tokyo increased from 70 in 2021 to 213 in 2025, while the animals have increasingly been reported closer to residential and agricultural areas. The share of sightings occurring within 200 meters of human habitation has risen from below 10% to more than 40%, according to figures cited by The Japan Times.
Tokyo estimates that between 120 and 378 Asian black bears currently inhabit the metropolitan area, with an average estimate of about 235 animals. The estimate was produced using a hair-trap system that collects fur samples for DNA analysis and helps researchers identify individual bears and their movements.
Where would bear hunting be allowed?
The proposed restrictions would focus on western Tokyo, where bears are concentrated.
The designated areas include Hachioji, Machida, Ome, Akiruno, Okutama, Hinode and Hinohara. Hunting could also be permitted along river corridors that may serve as routes for bears moving from mountainous habitats toward populated areas.
The plan would not amount to unrestricted hunting.
Instead, experienced and licensed hunters would be subject to specific requirements, while the annual removal target would be around 34 bears. Japanese media reports said the proposal will go through a public-comment process before the new rules take effect.
Why are bears appearing closer to Tokyo residents?
Experts point to several overlapping factors.
Poor acorn and nut harvests can leave bears with less natural food, encouraging them to travel farther in search of nourishment. Researchers have also pointed to changing hibernation patterns, shrinking rural populations and the disappearance of traditional buffer zones between forests and communities.
At the same time, Japan is facing a shortage of experienced hunters capable of responding to dangerous wildlife encounters.
Tokyo itself has acknowledged that riverbanks can provide concealed, continuous green corridors through which bears may travel from mountainous areas toward urban environments. Authorities are therefore also looking at vegetation management and other measures to discourage bears from using these routes.
Tokyo’s bear population is growing — but the animals remain protected
The policy shift is particularly notable because the Asian black bear remains a protected and conservation-sensitive species.
Tokyo classifies the species as near threatened on its local Red List. The metropolitan government says the estimated population appears to be increasing and that the animals’ range is expanding, creating a difficult balancing act between conservation and public safety.
That is why the proposed hunting program is being framed as population management rather than a blanket campaign against bears.
Tokyo’s authorities are also promoting non-lethal measures, including clearing dense vegetation, removing abandoned fruit trees and preventing food waste from being left outdoors — all steps intended to make residential areas less attractive to bears.
The bigger picture: Japan is facing a nationwide bear crisis
Tokyo’s decision comes as Japan grapples with an unprecedented level of human-bear conflict.
Japan recorded 13 deaths from bear attacks during fiscal 2025, a record high. The Japan Times has reported that bear-related casualties reached more than 230 by late 2025, while the government has expanded measures to deal with dangerous animals.
The national government has also introduced emergency measures allowing municipalities, under certain circumstances, to respond to bears entering residential areas. Japan’s Environment Ministry continues to publish data on bear sightings, human injuries, deaths and captures as the situation develops.
The scale of the problem has led to an increasingly difficult debate: how can Japan protect people without pushing vulnerable bear populations toward long-term decline?
The Guardian recently reported that more than 14,000 bears were culled nationwide between April 2025 and January 2026 amid the surge in attacks, while conservationists warned that large-scale culling could create ecological risks.
What happens next?
Tokyo’s proposed policy is expected to undergo further administrative procedures and public consultation before the hunting rules are implemented.
For residents and visitors, the change is a reminder that bear encounters are no longer confined to remote wilderness. Tokyo’s own environmental authorities have added bear-related safety guidance to its natural-park rules, urging hikers to prepare properly and use devices such as bear bells, whistles or radios.
The challenge facing Tokyo is now clear: control a growing bear population and reduce dangerous encounters while preserving a species that remains an important part of Japan’s natural environment.
The first hunting season in nearly 20 years could begin next spring — but the bigger question is whether 34 bears a year will be enough to keep the animals away from Tokyo’s increasingly crowded human spaces.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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