Stray Bear Forces Closure of 94 Schools in Japanese City

Authorities in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya have closed 94 public primary and junior high schools after a bear was spotted roaming the city for three consecutive days.

The animal was first seen on Saturday in northern Utsunomiya, a city located north of Tokyo. Since then, residents have reported more than 10 sightings in various locations, including residential neighborhoods, a shopping arcade, a public park, a high school, and a junior school.

Local officials, police officers, and hunters have launched a large-scale search operation to locate the bear. Residents have been advised to remain indoors or stay inside their vehicles whenever possible.

“We are using patrol vehicles in areas where the bear has been seen to warn residents and encourage them to stay safe,” a city official said.

Authorities have not yet determined whether all sightings involve the same bear or multiple animals.

The incident highlights a growing problem across Japan, where encounters between humans and bears have increased in recent years. Official figures show that more than 50,000 bear sightings were reported nationwide in the year ending March 2026, more than double the previous record set two years earlier.

Last year, 13 people were killed in bear-related incidents, the highest number on record. Experts say bears are increasingly entering urban areas in search of food, particularly after emerging from hibernation.

Utsunomiya, home to about 510,000 residents, had recorded only two unconfirmed bear sightings in the previous year. The sudden surge in sightings has raised concerns among local authorities as the search for the animal continues.

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