VIDEO: Man dresses up as a bear in Japanese city simulation to prevent attacks

Man dresses up as a bear in a simulation in Japan to train against a wave of attacks
Tochigi prefecture, in central Japan, carried out extensive training this Wednesday (17) to simulate the response to a bear invasion at a school, amid an increase in sightings of these animals in urban areas of the country. The information comes from the Reuters news agency.
The exercise mobilized police, riot teams, local authorities and accredited hunters on a school campus in the city of Yaita. During the simulation, a government official dressed in a bear costume represented the animal, while the teams practiced search procedures, evacuating the population and neutralizing the threat (see the video above).
Man dresses up as a bear in a simulation in Japan to train against a wave of attacks
Reproduction/Reuters
The scenario reproduced a situation in which a wild bear would have been seen near a goat pen inside the school. Police isolated the area, vehicles activated warning sirens and a drone was used to monitor the movement of the alleged animal.
At the end of the scenario, the "bear" was surrounded by hunters and riot police officers and ended up "shot down" during the simulated operation.
Man dresses up as a bear in a simulation in Japan to train against a wave of attacks
Reproduction/Reuters
According to Tetsuya Maruyama, head of the Countermeasures Department To Tochigi Prefecture Wildlife, the training was important to test coordination between the different agencies involved.
"Last year, an emergency hunting system was introduced that allows the capture of bears with firearms when they appear in urban areas. But, for this, several preparatory measures are needed and all of them require practice," he told Reuters.
Maruyama also highlighted that the number of occurrences is above normal. According to him, since April the province has received more reports of bear sightings than usual.
At the end of the scenario, the "bear" was surrounded by hunters and riot police officers and ended up "shot down" during the simulated operation
Reproduction/Reuters
Bear closed almost 100 schools
The authorities' concern increased after a sequence of sightings of a black bear in the neighboring city of Utsunomiya, which has more than 500 thousand inhabitants.
About a week ago, the animal caused the closure of almost 100 public schools and even a university campus for three consecutive days. The bear was eventually captured in a residential neighborhood on June 9.
Security camera footage recorded the animal running down a busy commercial street and passing close to pedestrians. In another video, recorded by a witness, the bear appears swimming in a canal, climbing a fence and running into a residential yard.
Use climbing a fence and running into a residential yard in a city in Japan
Reproduction/Reuters
Attacks on the rise
Japan has faced a significant increase in bear attacks, including in urban centers. Faced with the situation, the Japanese government created a task force this year to reduce incidents.
Data from the Ministry of the Environment show that the country recorded, in fiscal year 2025, a record 238 victims of bear attacks, including 13 deaths.
In early June, another attack in the city of Fukushima left at least four people injured. Security cameras captured the moment a bear chased a man and knocked him to the ground.
During training in Tochigi, in addition to simulating animal capture, public officials also practiced using bear repellent spray on life-size cardboard targets.
For hunter Fuminori Kimijima, 74, who participated in the activity, integration between different agencies is essential to quickly respond to real situations.
"There has been more bears around here lately. Exercises like this help identify problems and improve coordination between police, local authorities and hunting teams," he said.
Public officials also practiced using bear repellent spray on life-size cardboard targets
Reproduction/Reuters
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Source: G1