Four Men Injured in Bear Attacks Near JR Yuzawa Station in Akita Prefecture

Multiple Attacks Reported in Yuzawa

On Monday morning, October 20, 2025, an urban area in Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Japan, became the scene of multiple bear attacks, leaving four men injured. The incidents occurred around JR Yuzawa Station, prompting a swift response from local police and city officials.

The first report reached Yuzawa Police Station around 5:05 a.m., from a man in his 60s who reported being scratched on the back. Although he did not see the animal, the marks on his clothing were consistent with claw injuries.

Sequence of Events and Injuries

The series of attacks unfolded rapidly:

• At approximately 5:40 a.m., a man walking his dog on a national highway, about 600 meters east of the station, was bitten on his right arm by a bear.
• Roughly five minutes later, a security guard in his 70s was attacked in the parking lot of a nearby hotel, sustaining injuries to his back.
• The fourth victim, a man in his 60s, was scratched on his right leg around 6:25 a.m. as he was leaving his home.

According to police, one of the victims suffered serious injuries. All injured individuals were able to communicate when they were transported to the hospital.

Authorities Respond to Threat

Following the attacks, police officers were observed guarding a building where the bear involved in the final incident was believed to have taken refuge. The city government has initiated measures, including the setting of traps, to address the immediate threat posed by the animal.

These incidents occur amidst a broader trend of increasing bear sightings and attacks across Japan, particularly in Akita Prefecture, which has seen a higher-than-usual number of encounters this year. Experts attribute the rise in part to habitat loss and food scarcity in the wild.