Tokyo Considers Lifting Bear Hunting Ban for First Time in Two Decades

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is considering lifting the ban on hunting Asian black bears for the first time in nearly 20 years.

This policy shift follows a surge in bear-human conflicts that threaten public safety in the capital's mountainous regions. Officials are evaluating hunting as a necessary population-control measure to prevent further injuries to residents and visitors.

The proposal centers on the western village of Hinohara, where sightings and trace reports have exceeded 80 this year ^[2]. The urgency increased after a 56-year-old man ^[2] was injured by a bear on July 7 ^[2]. A spokesperson for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Public Relations Department said the damage is becoming more serious.

Tokyo last allowed the hunting of these bears in 2008 ^[4]. Since then, the population has fluctuated, with estimates suggesting up to 378 Asian black bears currently reside within the prefecture ^[3]. While some reports suggest population declines in certain areas, other officials cite the increase in sightings and attacks as the primary driver for the change.

Local hunters are already observing the animals in the wild. Yusuke Arai, a hunter, said he has seen the rear of a bear climbing quickly above him during a hunt.

If the Tokyo Metropolitan Government moves forward with the plan, the policy could be enacted as early as the next fiscal year in 2027. The administration is currently weighing the effectiveness of hunting against other prevention methods to manage the wildlife population in the western forests.

This move marks a significant departure from the conservation-heavy approach Tokyo has maintained for the last two decades. The government aims to balance the protection of the species, and the immediate need to secure the safety of people in the Hinohara area.