News Black Bear Waga-machi, Kitakami (Iwate Prefecture), Iwate Oct 17, 2025

Description

In a grove near a hot-spring inn in Waga-machi, Kitakami, the body believed to be that of 60-year-old Katsumi Sasazaki, who went missing while cleaning an open-air bath, was found on the morning of the 17th, and an adult male Asiatic black bear suspected of attacking him was culled nearby. The culled bear measured about 1.5 m in length and weighed about 80 kg, noted as thin, and the body was severely damaged.

Note: Official sources provide information in Japanese only. This description has been machine translated for your convenience.

Summary

The body believed to be a 60-year-old man who went missing while cleaning an open-air bath at a hot-spring inn in Waga-machi, Kitakami, was found on the morning of the 17th about 50 meters from the inn across the Natsuyu River. An adult male Asiatic black bear was culled near the scene; hunters reported it measured about 1.5 m and weighed roughly 80 kg and appeared thin. The city has requested DNA tests comparing hair from earlier death sites with this bear and is stepping up warnings and patrols.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Friday, October 17, 2025

Address

Coordinates

39.286774, 141.113154

Sources