New Term Begins Under Bear Alert

Aug 27, 2025 | News On Japan

HOKKAIDO, Aug 27, 2025 (News On Japan) - Many elementary and junior high schools across Hokkaido began their second term on August 25, with campuses in bear-prone areas opening the term under heightened precautions.

In Esashi, the board of education asked parents and guardians of elementary and junior high school students to provide rides to and from school to reduce the risk of encounters. The town has reported more than 20 cases in August alone of watermelons and other produce in home gardens being ravaged, and bears were also spotted at two locations from the night of August 24 into the morning of August 25. “Bears are frightening. We want them culled quickly,” a resident said, while another noted that they place food waste in a cooler and set it out on the morning of collection to avoid attracting wildlife.

At Shosanbetsu Junior High School, which held its opening ceremony on August 20, a bear was seen walking through the courtyard that same day. On August 23, a bear was spotted on the grounds of a nearby shrine and then moved onto the school grounds; a hunter fired, and the round struck near the animal’s hindquarters before it fled toward the mountains.

On August 25, the village installed about 250 meters of electric fencing between the junior high school and the forest behind it. The school continues to ask parents to handle drop-offs and pick-ups during commuting hours.

Source: HBCニュース　北海道放送

Japan's Ancient Capitals Await World Heritage Status

Residents in Nara Prefecture are celebrating after UNESCO's advisory body recommended the archaeological complex known as the Asuka-Fujiwara Ancient Capitals for inscription as a World Heritage site, bringing the historic birthplace of Japan's ancient state one step closer to international recognition.

Tropical Depression Brings New Heavy Rain Threat to Southern Japan

A tropical depression is expected to move northward this weekend and could bring another round of heavy rain to parts of Japan, following a week in which Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) caused significant rainfall and left some areas vulnerable to further weather-related damage.

Controversy Erupts Over Prime Minister Takaichi’s Alleged Smear Video

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations that members of her campaign were involved in distributing online videos that disparaged rival candidates during the February House of Representatives election, with opposition parties intensifying their questioning in the Diet and demanding further clarification.

Japan Calls for Next Generation Hunters; Bear Sightings Exceed 50,000

The Japanese government approved its 2026 Environment White Paper at a Cabinet meeting on June 5th, warning that a record-high 50,000-plus bear sightings recorded nationwide during fiscal 2025 have become a serious threat to public safety while also highlighting growing concerns over Japan's aging hunting population and the need to train a new generation of hunters.

28 Typhoons Expected to Hit Japan in 2026

Japan could face a more active typhoon season than usual in 2026, with private weather forecaster Weathernews predicting around 28 typhoons to form during the year—above the long-term average of 25.1—and warning that approximately 14 could approach Japan, increasing the risk of weather-related disruptions across the country.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Japan Toothbrushing Drill Draws Record 326,000 Students

Elementary school students across Japan took part in the National Elementary School Toothbrushing Event on June 5th, with children at approximately 6,000 schools learning proper brushing techniques and oral hygiene practices under the guidance of dental hygienists.

Japan's Birth Rate Falls to Record Low 1.14

Japan's total fertility rate, which represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, fell to a record low of 1.14 in 2025, underscoring the country's deepening demographic challenges.

Historic Kyoto Girls' School Opens Doors to Boys

As Japan's shrinking youth population continues to reshape the education sector, a girls' high school in Kyoto has announced plans to become coeducational beginning next academic year.

Hokkaidō 1997 | Heart of the Country

Heart of the Country” is the story of Shinichi Yasutomo, the extraordinary principal of a rural elementary school in Kanayama, central Hokkaido, Northern Japan. Yasutomo is a man driven by his vision for learning and his passion for educating the heart as well as the mind. (TRNGL)

Challenges Foreign Workers Face in Japan

An Indonesian bus driver working in Tokyo says language barriers and differences in communication styles remain among the biggest challenges facing foreign workers in Japan, highlighting the importance of support from employers and colleagues as the country increasingly relies on overseas labor.

Japan Revamps Disaster Alert System

Japan will begin rolling out a major overhaul of its disaster weather information system from the afternoon of May 28th, reorganizing warnings and advisories to make it easier for residents to understand when they should evacuate.

The Hidden Pressure Behind Japan’s Youth Group Killings

Two recent murder cases in Hokkaido, in which groups of young people were accused of taking the lives of a high school girl in Asahikawa and a male university student in Ebetsu, have drawn renewed attention to the psychology behind crimes committed by groups.

Fatal Okinawa Peace Trip Under Scrutiny from Education Minister

Education Minister Yohei Matsumoto said on May 22nd that Doshisha International High School's planning, on-site response and safety management during a study trip to Okinawa were "grossly inappropriate," placing extremely heavy responsibility on the school and its operator after two small boats carrying students capsized off Henoko in Nago, killing a student and a captain.

< 2 3 4 5 >