AKITA, Oct 28, 2025 (News On Japan) - An elderly woman was found dead in a roadside ditch in Akita City on October 27th, with police investigating the possibility that she was attacked by a bear. A local resident discovered the woman lying face down in a drainage channel around 11 a.m. and called emergency services.
The body is believed to be that of a woman in her 80s and was found with severe injuries across her body. Around the same time the body was discovered, a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted near the area, which is surrounded by dense forest. Police are working to confirm the woman’s identity and are investigating the cause of death, including the possibility of a bear attack.
The discovery comes amid an alarming surge in bear-related incidents across Akita Prefecture. Last week, in Higashinaruse Village, four people were attacked by bears—one fatally and three seriously injured—prompting growing concern among local communities.
In response to what officials have called an “unprecedented crisis” of bear encounters, Governor Norihisa Suzuki announced plans to visit the Ministry of Defense on October 28th to formally request the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for disaster assistance. According to several ministry sources, the SDF is preparing to accept the request and coordinate support measures to help control the growing threat posed by wild bears in the region.
Source: 日テレNEWS
