Key Facts
• July 12, early morning: Incident occurred in a residential area of Fukushima Town, Hokkaido.
• Victim: 52-year-old newspaper delivery worker, Kenki Sato.
• Location: Victim attacked on residential property and dragged into nearby bushes.
• 3:00 AM: Resident reported seeing the bear attacking and dragging the victim.
• Witness: Described the bear as 1.5 meters tall and very large, even when crouching.
• Police and hunters found the victim in the bushes, confirmed dead at the scene.
• Despite searches, the bear was not located.
• Authorities increased patrols and issued warnings to local residents.
Summary
A 52-year-old newspaper delivery worker, Kenki Sato, was fatally attacked by a bear in the early hours of July 12 in Fukushima Town, Hokkaido. The attack occurred on a residential property, and the victim was dragged into nearby bushes. A resident reported the incident at around 3:00 AM, describing the bear as approximately 1.5 meters tall and very large. Police and hunters discovered the victim’s body shortly after but were unable to locate the bear. Authorities have since increased patrols and urged residents to remain vigilant.
