News Black Bear Kitakami (Sebi Onsen), Iwate, Iwate Oct 16, 2025, 09:00 AM

Description

Katsumi Sasazaki (age 60), who worked at a hot spring inn in Kitakami, Iwate, went missing on the morning of October 16, 2025 while cleaning an open-air bath and was found dead the morning of October 17 in a grove about 50 meters from the bath. The body showed severe head and arm injuries; human tissue and hair were found in the bear's stomach, and one Asiatic black bear (tsukinowaguma) near the scene was culled by hunters.

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

Summary

Katsumi Sasazaki (60) had moved to Kitakami with his family earlier this year and was working at Sebi Onsen. He disappeared on the morning of October 16 while cleaning an open-air bath and was found dead the next morning in a nearby grove; his body showed severe injuries and one Asiatic black bear at the scene was culled. Sasazaki, also known as a professional wrestling referee, was mourned by colleagues and family at his funeral.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 09:00 AM

Address

Coordinates

39.286774, 141.113154

Sources