The National Police Agency is deploying armed riot police units to Akita and Iwate prefectures to assist with this year’s alarming number of bear sightings and attacks.
Specially trained officers will be allowed to use rifles starting Nov. 13 if local hunters are unavailable or unable to respond quickly.
Normally assigned to counterterrorism duties, officers will undergo training in bear behavior and conduct shooting drills.
These permissions come after the Nov. 6 deployment of two teams to each prefecture. Teams will rotate every two weeks with replacements drawn from across the country. The move also follows a rule-change allowing police to use rifles for wildlife control.
For now, the program is limited to Akita and Iwate prefectures, with future expansion depending on how the situation develops.
“We will continue to work closely with local governments to prioritize the safety of residents and prevent further bear-related incidents,” said NPA chief Yoshinobu Kusunoki.
Each team comprises four members: two rifle-trained officers, a commander and a coordinator with local officials. All are to work alongside wildlife experts and hunters commissioned by local authorities.
Local governments have welcomed the support, citing a shortage of hunters and growing concern for public safety.
SPORTING EVENT PRECAUTIONS
Bear sightings and attacks across the country are now negatively impacting sporting events, prompting changes, safety measures and cancellations.
As previously announced, the Tohoku high school ekiden (long-distance relay race) was relocated from a road route to a track in suburban Akita on Nov. 6.
To deter bears, organizers set up barricades and played loud music and firecracker audio around the venue.
While some organizers have canceled races altogether, others have proceeded with heightened safety measures.
The Tendo La France Marathon in Yamagata Prefecture drew around 4,300 runners on Nov. 2, with strict safety measures in place. These included fireworks, loudspeakers and local hunters on patrol.
(Minori Oshita, Koki Furuhata and Toru Nakakoji also contributed to this article.)
