News Black Bear Shiwa, Iwate Apr 21, 2026, 12:50 AM

Description

At around 09:50 on April 21, 2026, a 56-year-old male police officer searching for a missing person in forested land in Yamaya, Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, was bitten by a bear in the face and thigh and suffered serious injuries but remained conscious. An adult woman's body was found several tens of meters from the scene; police suspect she may have been attacked by a bear and are confirming her identity, and local hunters culled the bear.

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

Summary

In forested land in Yamaya, Shiwa Town, Iwate, a police officer searching for a missing person was seriously injured by a bear, and an adult woman's body was found nearby. Local hunters culled the bear, and police are working to confirm the woman's identity and determine whether the bear was responsible.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 12:50 AM

Address

Coordinates

39.581054, 141.283934

Sources