A dramatic bear encounter captured on video by a professional snowboarder in Hakuba has sharpened attention on a growing national crisis: Japan is experiencing its deadliest year on record for bear attacks, with 13 people killed and hundreds injured across the country. According to NHK data, as of early December, bears had injured 235 people and killed 13 across 21 prefectures, marking the highest toll on record.
The impact has extended beyond public safety into tourism and local economies. In northern regions known for autumn foliage and hot springs, hotels and inns have reported mass cancellations this fall.
The trend has been stark in Nagano Prefecture. On December 4, a bear attacked a man in his 70s as he cleared snow outside his home in Nozawaonsen Village, clawing his face and thigh.
Tim Konrad, founder of Unofficial Networks, is a skier with over 20 years in the ski industry. Japan is currently experiencing a wave of bear attacks on humans, with 13 fatal attacks across the country since April. A recent video posted by a snowboarder named Makoto Kuroko captures a terrifying close call, and he believes he was just moments from becoming an addition to this year’s tragic statistics.
The country’s Ministry of the Environment reports there have been more than 36,800 bear sightings across the country since April. According to government statistics, 230 people in Japan have been attacked since April, resulting in 13 fatalities. If you’re heading to Japan this winter, make sure your reflexes are sharp. Catching an edge could result in more than just a faceplant.
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Asiatic Black Bear
The Hakuba Incident
The video, filmed early on the morning of December 7 and widely shared online, shows a bear running up a ski slope toward a snowboarder enjoying first tracks. The rider later identified himself as Makoto Kuroki, a professional snowboarder who lives and works in Hakuba.
While carving through Japan’s Hakuba Valley on December 7, Kuroki realized he wasn’t alone on the piste. In a series of short clips he posted to social media the following day, Kuroki is seen carving around the apex predator as if it were just a 250-pound slalom gate. Kuroki’s initial social media reaction? “A memorable moment from my first run,” he remarked in his post’s caption.
The footage shows Kuroko enjoying a solo early-morning run when a bear, who is downslope, darts in his direction. “It nearly collided with me … and our eyes met,” he told the Japan Times. “Had I fallen, I would have been caught. Had I collided, I might have been attacked.
“When I turned there was a bear. I was surprised,” Kuroki said to The Japan Times in an interview, describing how the animal chased him briefly before breaking off and returning to the forest. “Had I fallen I would have been caught. Had I collided I might have been attacked.
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Kuroki, who lives and works in the Hakuba region, explained in his blog that the encounter happened early in the morning, when no other skiers or snowboarders were on the slopes.
Hakuba Valley
Context and Safety Measures
In his blog, Kuroki stressed that the video should be understood in context, noting that Hakuba Village has been operating enhanced bear-safety measures since autumn. According to his account, every reported sighting triggers village-wide announcements over public loudspeakers, while a regularly updated “Bear Sighting Map” highlights high-risk areas. Following the December 7 sighting, ski resorts in the area further tightened protocols.
Kuroko gave more context to the entire incident on his personal blog. He attributes the rising number of deer in the area to more sightings in the village. A warmer early winter, he says, may have kept some bears from entering hibernation. Measures include warnings broadcast on village speakers when bears are sighted and a public “Bear Sighting Map” to identify high-risk areas.
“We have received a report of a possible bear sighting within the ski resort.
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Environmental Factors
Experts, such as Mochizuki Shota, an associate professor at Fukushima University, point to environmental factors behind the surge in encounters. This year saw a poor acorn harvest-a key food source for bears-alongside a rise in deer populations.
Mochizuki Shota told NHK that while many bears have already entered hibernation, a smaller number remain active. Some, he said, may be orphaned cubs that never learned to hibernate after their mothers were killed.
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Personal Responsibility and Awareness
For Kuroki, the encounter was both a warning and a reminder. In his blog post, he emphasized personal responsibility for early-morning riders, recommending whistles, heightened awareness and extra care around children and visitors unfamiliar with Japan’s wildlife risks.
“We are able to enjoy skiing and snowboarding thanks to the mountains-home to bears, deer, and many other wildlife species. I am once again reminded to appreciate this environment that we are borrowing.