Operations of 30% firms in north-eastern Japan disrupted by bears: Survey

TOKYO – Nearly 30 per cent of companies in north-eastern Japan reported disruptions to their operations due to bears, a survey by a credit research firm showed on Dec 12, amid a surge in attacks and sightings.

The online survey by Tokyo Shoko Research, the first of its kind by the firm, found that 28.9 per cent of companies in the north-eastern region – which saw the highest number of

such attacks in Japan

in 2025 –

were affected by bears, compared with 6.6 per cent of companies nationwide.

Asked how they were impacted by bears, 47 per cent of companies across Japan said they were compelled to provide employees with information on bear sightings and attacks, while 27.5 per cent said they had to invest in measures to prevent damage.

Other responses showed that some companies had to cancel or postpone events, while others experienced a decline in orders or customer visits to stores and offices.

The survey results come as the Environment Ministry said last week that

bear attacks on 230 people

, including 13 fatalities, were reported between April and November.

Of these attacks, 154 individuals, or 66.9 per cent, were in north-eastern Japan.

Among other parts of the country, 15.5 per cent of companies in Hokkaido said their operations were disrupted, followed by 8.7 per cent in the Hokuriku region along the Sea of Japan, and 4.8 per cent in the Chubu region in the central part, according to the survey. KYODO NEWS