A search operation is ongoing in Utsunomiya, Japan, after a black bear was repeatedly sighted in residential areas, prompting authorities to shut down all 94 public primary and junior high schools for a second day in a row.
Officials say the bear, estimated to weigh about 100 kilograms, was last seen early Tuesday morning near a university campus, roughly 700 metres away. It is believed to be the same animal first observed over the weekend—reportedly the first confirmed bear appearance in the city, located about 100 kilometres north of Tokyo.
Local authorities, including police, firefighters, and licensed hunters, are conducting coordinated patrols across the area. Depending on where the animal is found, officials may attempt to capture it with tranquilizers, trap it, or use lethal force if necessary to protect residents.
Bear encounters have become increasingly common in Japan in recent years, including in populated areas. Government figures show a record 238 human injuries from bear incidents in the 2025 fiscal year, with 13 deaths reported.
Experts link the rise in sightings to multiple factors, including reduced hunting activity, expanding bear populations, and environmental changes. Asiatic black bears are considered a vulnerable species globally, yet their numbers in Japan have reportedly increased since 2012.
Researchers also point to climate change, which has reduced natural food supplies like acorns and beechnuts. Combined with rural depopulation and abandoned farmland, this has pushed bears closer to human settlements in search of food.
Officials continue to urge caution as the search operation continues across the city.
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