A wandering bear that roamed the streets of Utsunomiya, a city just north of Tokyo, was captured on June 9. The animal had been on the loose for four days, sparking panic among residents.
The bear sightings forced the closure of all 94 public primary and middle schools in the city. A dramatic search to capture the bear involved helicopters along with dozens of hunters and police.
Bear attacks have been on the rise across Japan, with a record 13 people killed by bears last year in 2025. In the northeastern city of Fukushima, a bear attack last week left at least four people injured, though authorities have failed to capture that bear.