A bear attacked a man in a rice field in Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, causing injuries to his face and limbs [1, 2, 3].

This incident highlights the increasing risk of human-wildlife conflict in Japan during peak travel seasons, as bears venture closer to residential and educational areas in search of food.

The animal, which measured approximately one meter in length [1], bit the victim on the right side of his face and his right arm [1]. Other reports indicated the bear also bit the man's head and legs [2, 3]. Despite the injuries, police in Yurihonjo said the man's life is not in danger [2].

Reports on the timing and victim's identity vary. FNN reported the attack occurred around 8:15 a.m. on May 5 [1], while other sources said it happened around 4 p.m. on May 4 [2, 3]. The victim's age was listed as being in his 40s by FNN [1], though Livedoor reported he was 61 [2] and MSN cited him as being in his 60s [3].

The attack took place in a rice field in the Oguriyama district [2, 3]. FNN specified the location was adjacent to an elementary school [1]. A woman who reported the incident described the scene as harrowing.

"He sat here and said, 'Please call an ambulance,' so I thought he was feeling unwell, but he was bleeding from his face, his back was attacked, and it looked like his leg was attacked too—the clothes underneath were torn away," the woman said [1].

She also expressed concern regarding the proximity to the school. "Children were walking to school normally, so it is scary. I was surprised," she said [1].

Local authorities believe the bear was searching for food in the fields [1]. This attack is the ninth instance of human injury or casualty involving bears in 2026 [2]. Officials said that an increase in tourists during the Golden Week holiday and the presence of food waste have contributed to more frequent bear sightings [1].

“"Children were walking to school normally, so it is scary."”

The rise in bear-human encounters in Akita Prefecture reflects a broader trend of habitat encroachment and behavioral changes in wildlife. The fact that this attack occurred near an elementary school suggests that traditional boundaries between wilderness and residential zones are blurring, likely exacerbated by the seasonal influx of tourists and improper waste management during public holidays.