Bear Mauls Security Guard at Train Station Restroom in Japan amid Alarming Rise in Fatal Attacks By Kirsty Hatcher

A man has been attacked by a bear in a public restroom in Japan.

According to local media outlets Kyodo News and NHK, the 69-year-old, who is a security guard, was mauled by the bear just as he was about to exit the restroom near a train station north of Tokyo.

Though he fell, the man managed to fight back and kick the bear, which caused it to flee, per Kyodo News. The incident happened in the early hours of Friday, Nov. 28, with the man running to a nearby police box at 1:20 a.m. local time to report the attack.

He sustained minor injuries to his right leg, according to the outlet and NHK. The security guard told police that he noticed the animal looking inside the restroom when he was about to exit, per Kyodo News. 

The train station is located in Numata City and is surrounded by restaurants and houses. 

Police are patrolling the area, according to NHK, and they have asked residents to secure their windows and doors and to only go out if it is absolutely necessary.

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This comes after Japan’s environment ministry said last month that bear attacks are on the rise in the country. 

Since April 2025, there have been seven fatal bear attacks in Japan, the ministry said, per the BBC and NBC. This is a record high for the country and up from five bear deaths in 2024. 

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At the time, there had been roughly 100 bear attack-related injuries in 2025, up from the 80 reported in 2024. 

Most fatalities have occurred in the northeastern region and the northern prefecture of the island of Hokkaido.

Experts believe the effects of climate change and the bears’ shift towards more urban areas could explain the increase in attacks.