TOKYO - Japan’s worsening bear problem has prompted calls for national intervention, but legal and operational barriers have complicated the government’s response. In 2025, bear attacks have reached record levels, leaving 12 people dead—double the previous high of six fatalities in 2023.
The most serious incidents have occurred in Akita and Iwate Prefectures, with Akita alone culling more than 1,000 bears this year. Amid mounting danger, local authorities have requested assistance from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF).
However, the SDF’s role will be limited to logistical support—such as transporting traps and hauling carcasses after hunters perform the culling—rather than engaging in direct shooting. The use of weapons by the SDF is restricted by law. Under Japan’s legal framework, the SDF can be dispatched for “defense operations,” “public security,” “disaster relief,” or “civil support.” Weapon use is permitted only under the first two, while civil support missions generally prohibit it. Moreover, current law does not clearly recognize animal culling as a legitimate reason for the use of force.
The ambiguity recalls the 2016 film “Shin Godzilla,” in which the fictional government debates whether to invoke defense or public security provisions before opting for a defense order. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba later remarked that since Godzilla’s rampage was not an invasion, the proper framework would have been disaster relief, arguing that weapons could be viewed as “tools” to remove hazards. The same logic, however, remains legally uncertain today, with the government classifying the bear-control deployment as civil support.
Japan has a few historical precedents for military involvement in wildlife management. About sixty years ago, the SDF helped cull sea lions in Hokkaido to protect fisheries, using fighter aircraft and machine guns under the pretext of “training.” More recently, in the 2010s, the SDF assisted in deer-control operations in Hokkaido and Kochi Prefecture, relaying aerial data on herd locations by helicopter without directly firing any weapons.
Even if authorized, the question remains whether standard SDF weaponry would be effective. Bears have thick layers of fat and strong skulls, making them resistant to small firearms. Katsuju Takada, former commander of the Ground Component Command, explained that standard-issue rifles are designed to suppress enemies rather than kill large animals instantly, emphasizing the need for careful selection of more powerful sniper rifles if ever considered.
For now, the SDF will restrict its role to support functions while the government explores allowing police and designated public officers to use rifles in bear control efforts.
