Firearms Use Expanded from Subduing Violent Criminals to Wildlife Control
Specialized Shooting Teams Dispatched to Akita and Iwate Prefectures
As fatalities continue to rise due to a series of bear attacks in northern Japan, the government has mobilized not only the Japan Self-Defense Forces but also riot police units to contain the situation.
According to major Japanese media outlets on November 7, the National Police Agency has revised its regulations to allow the use of firearms to drive away bears near villages where bear sightings are frequent. Previously, firearm use was limited to subduing violent criminals, but as threats to public safety have persisted, an exception has been made.
On the 5th, Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel are conducting training to set up bear traps in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
With this new measure, additional response teams made up of specialists will be deployed in Akita and Iwate Prefectures. Each team will consist of four members, including a commander, a marksman, and an administrative support officer, and will officially begin bear control operations on November 13. The police plan to operate two teams in each area, conducting both patrols and firearms training.
The personnel dispatched are from riot police units originally tasked with counter-terrorism duties. They will undergo field training to learn about bear habits and behavior patterns before carrying out their assignments. Local residents have expressed relief at the police deployment, but some remain cautious, noting, "Bears are so agile that it's hard to guarantee the effectiveness of these measures."
Previously, the Japan Self-Defense Forces were also deployed at the request of Akita Prefecture. However, the Self-Defense Forces will not use firearms; instead, they will assist with setting traps and transporting captured bears. The personnel are equipped with bulletproof vests, shields, bear repellent spray, and long poles as they carry out their safety duties.
According to Japan's Ministry of the Environment, since April, 13 people have died due to bear attacks, marking the highest number of fatalities since related statistics began. During the same period, there have been more than 20,000 bear sightings, already surpassing last year's annual total.
Local media have analyzed that "this year, an extremely poor crop of beech nuts has caused a surge in cases of bears coming into residential areas in search of food." Some delivery companies have begun providing bear repellent spray to couriers in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, while local governments have requested additional financial support from the central government.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated, "This is an issue directly linked to the lives of our citizens," and pledged, "We will swiftly implement the necessary measures."
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