Japan city captures 100-kg bear after 4 days and 94 school closures
What's next: A second bear that injured four people in Fukushima is still at large as Japan grapples with record attacks.
Authorities in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, sedated and captured a black bear on Tuesday after four days of sightings that shut all 94 public primary and middle schools. Officials said the roughly 100-kilogram animal had been seen more than 20 times since Saturday near homes, parks, schools and a shopping arcade, prompting a search involving police, hunters and city staff. Local media reported the first two tranquilizer shots missed before a later shot brought the bear down. The capture came as Japan faces a broader rise in dangerous bear encounters. Environment ministry data cited by BBC showed 238 victims and 13 deaths in 2025. In Fukushima, another bear that injured four people remains on the loose after evading capture.