On the evening of the 12th, a man in his 70s was attacked by a bear in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, sustaining serious injuries including a broken arm.
According to the Takayama City Bear Damage Response Headquarters, the attack occurred around 4:30 PM on the 12th in the mountains of Yoshino, Kamitakara Town, Takayama City.
The man suffered head injuries with bleeding and a broken left arm.
The man was gathering chestnuts alone when he encountered two Asian black bears – a mother and her cub.
In Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, there have been 254 bear sightings by the end of September, representing an increase of over 40 cases compared to the previous year. Additionally, in Kamitakara Town, there had been 38 bear sightings reported before today’s incident.
In the area around the incident site, hunting association patrols and fire brigade warning activities are being conducted.
Takayama City
Takayama City, located in the mountainous Gifu Prefecture of Japan, is a historic city renowned for its beautifully preserved Edo-period streets in the Sanmachi Suji district. It flourished as a wealthy merchant town due to its high-quality timber and skilled carpenters, who were commissioned for work in Kyoto and Edo. Today, it is often called “Little Kyoto” for its traditional atmosphere, old merchant houses, and famous biannual Takayama Festivals.
Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture, located in central Japan, is a region rich in natural beauty and traditional crafts, historically known as a crossroads for travel and trade. It is famous for the historic mountain village of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site with unique thatched-roof houses, and the city of Gifu, which was a powerful base for the warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. The prefecture is also renowned for its centuries-old tradition of cormorant fishing (ukai) on the Nagara River and its high-quality Mino washi paper.
Yoshino
Yoshino is a mountainous area in Nara Prefecture, Japan, renowned for its thousands of cherry trees that blanket the slopes in spring. It has been a center of Shugendō mountain asceticism for centuries and served as the base for the Southern Court during the turbulent Nanboku-chō period of the 14th century. This deep history, combined with its natural beauty, has made it a celebrated site in Japanese literature and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kamitakara Town
Kamitakara was a former town located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, known for its mountainous landscapes and traditional thatched-roof houses. It was historically part of the Hida region and was a center for forestry and agriculture. In 2004, it merged with the neighboring town of Kokufu to form the new city of Takayama.
Takayama City Bear Damage Response Headquarters
The Takayama City Bear Damage Response Headquarters is a municipal coordination center established in Takayama, Japan, to address increasing human-bear conflicts in the region. It was created in response to rising bear sightings and encounters, particularly linked to habitat encroachment and seasonal food shortages. The headquarters coordinates prevention efforts, public safety alerts, and emergency responses to protect both residents and wildlife.
Asian black bears
Asian black bears, also known as moon bears due to the distinctive white crescent on their chests, are a species native to forested habitats across Asia. They have a long history intertwined with human culture, featuring in folklore and traditional medicine, though this has also led to their exploitation and endangered status. Today, they are a focus of conservation efforts due to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade.