Man dresses up as a bear in simulation in Japan to train against wave of attacks Tochigi prefecture, in central Japan, carried out extensive training this Wednesday (17) to simulate the response to a bear invasion at a school, amid an increase in sightings of these animals in urban areas of the country. The information comes from the Reuters news agency. The exercise mobilized police, riot teams, local authorities and licensed hunters at a school campus in the city of Yaita. During the simulation, a government official dressed in a bear costume represented the animal, while the teams practiced search procedures, evacuating the population and neutralizing the threat (see the video above). The scenario replicated a situation in which a wild bear was reportedly spotted near a goat pen inside the school. Police isolated the area, vehicles activated warning sirens and a drone was used to monitor the movement of the alleged animal. At the end of the performance, the "bear" was surrounded by hunters and riot police officers and ended up "slaughtered" during the simulated operation. According to Tetsuya Maruyama, head of Tochigi Prefecture's Wildlife Countermeasures Department, the training was important to test coordination between the different agencies involved. "Last year, an emergency hunting system was introduced that allows the capture of bears with firearms when they appear in urban areas. But to do so, several preparatory measures are needed and they all require practice," he said. Maruyama also highlighted that the number of incidents is above normal. According to him, since April the province has received more reports of bear sightings than usual. Urso closed almost 100 schools Authorities' concern increased after a series of sightings of a black bear in the nearby city of Utsunomiya, which has more than 500,000 inhabitants. About a week ago, the animal caused the closure of almost 100 public schools and even a university campus for three consecutive days. The bear was eventually captured in a residential neighborhood on June 9. Security camera footage recorded the animal running down a busy commercial street and passing close to pedestrians. In another video, recorded by a witness, the bear appears swimming in a canal, climbing a fence and running into a residential yard. Attacks on the rise Japan has faced a significant increase in bear attacks, including in urban centers. Faced with the situation, the Japanese government created a task force this year to reduce incidents. Data from the Ministry of the Environment shows that the country recorded, in fiscal year 2025, a record 238 victims of bear attacks, including 13 deaths. In early June, another attack in the city of Fukushima left at least four people injured. Security cameras captured the moment a bear chased a man and knocked him to the ground. During training in Tochigi, in addition to simulating animal capture, public officials also practiced using bear repellent spray on life-size cardboard targets. For hunter Fuminori Kimijima, 74 years old, who participated in the activity, integration between different bodies is essential to respond quickly to real situations. "There have been more bears around here lately. Exercises like this help identify problems and improve coordination between police, local authorities and hunting teams," he said.