Bear Attacks Suspected Again in Japan: Two Elderly Found Dead in Mountains with External Injuries
In Japan, two elderly individuals were found dead in mountainous areas of Yamagata and Iwate prefectures with external injuries, leading police to suspect bear attacks. Separately, an elderly man in Yamagata was attacked by a bear while foraging but sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 17:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 17:32 (25 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 18:02 (29 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 7th, comprehensive foreign report) Recently, residents were found dead in mountainous areas in Yamagata and Iwate prefectures in Japan. Police stated today that they are investigating the cases as deaths caused by bear attacks. In addition, an elderly man in Yamagata Prefecture was injured today after encountering a bear while foraging for wild vegetables in the mountains, but fortunately, his life is not in danger.
YTS Yamagata Television reported that today, Yamagata Prefecture experienced its first human bear attack case of the year.
Local police and the Asahi Town Office explained that an elderly man in his 70s from Shirataka Town was attacked by a bear this morning while collecting wild vegetables in the mountainous area of the Ofunaki district in Asahi Town, sustaining head and facial injuries. He received medical treatment after the attack, and fortunately, his life is not in danger.
The elderly man was accompanied by another person to collect wild vegetables in the mountains at the time. After the incident, his companion reported it to the police and sent him to the hospital.
Yamagata Prefecture also had a case where a resident was suspected to have died from a bear attack.
Kyodo News reported that the Sakata Police Station in Yamagata Prefecture stated that a 78-year-old elderly man from the area went to the mountains to collect wild vegetables on the morning of the 3rd of this month. He did not return home that afternoon and went missing. His family then reported it to the police.
Police and other units then found a body in the forest on the morning of the 5th of this month, and the body had external injuries on the head and arms. At that time, a bear appeared from the bushes near the body, and a member of the accompanying hunting club shot and killed the bear.
The Sakata Police Station stated today that the preliminary judgment is that the body may be that of the missing elderly man, and they are currently verifying the identity of the body and investigating the connection between the bear and the body.
In addition to Yamagata Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture also had a similar case. Iwate Prefectural Police stated that today, a female body was found in the mountainous area of Hachimantai City, and the body had scratch marks on the face and head, initially suspected to be from a bear attack.
Local police began searching yesterday for a woman in her 60s who had gone out to collect wild vegetables but went missing. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 7th, comprehensive foreign report) Recently, residents were found dead in mountainous areas in Yamagata and Iwate prefectures in Japan. Police stated today that they are investigating the cases as deaths caused by bear attacks. In addition, an elderly man in Yamagata Prefecture was injured today after encountering a bear while foraging for wild vegetables in the mountains, but fortunately, his life is not in danger.
YTS Yamagata Television reported that today, Yamagata Prefecture experienced its first human bear attack case of the year.
Local police and the Asahi Town Office explained that an elderly man in his 70s from Shirataka Town was attacked by a bear this morning while collecting wild vegetables in the mountainous area of the Ofunaki district in Asahi Town, sustaining head and facial injuries. He received medical treatment after the attack, and fortunately, his life is not in danger.
The elderly man was accompanied by another person to collect wild vegetables in the mountains at the time. After the incident, his companion reported it to the police and sent him to the hospital.
Yamagata Prefecture also had a case where a resident was suspected to have died from a bear attack.
Kyodo News reported that the Sakata Police Station in Yamagata Prefecture stated that a 78-year-old elderly man from the area went to the mountains to collect wild vegetables on the morning of the 3rd of this month. He did not return home that afternoon and went missing. His family then reported it to the police.
Police and other units then found a body in the forest on the morning of the 5th of this month, and the body had external injuries on the head and arms. At that time, a bear appeared from the bushes near the body, and a member of the accompanying hunting club shot and killed the bear.
The Sakata Police Station stated today that the preliminary judgment is that the body may be that of the missing elderly man, and they are currently verifying the identity of the body and investigating the connection between the bear and the body.
In addition to Yamagata Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture also had a similar case. Iwate Prefectural Police stated that today, a female body was found in the mountainous area of Hachimantai City, and the body had scratch marks on the face and head, initially suspected to be from a bear attack.
Local police began searching yesterday for a woman in her 60s who had gone out to collect wild vegetables but went missing. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.