Key Facts
• October 29: Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced bear attacks are ‘extremely severe.’
• Government upgraded response from inter-agency meeting to ministerial meeting.
• New participants: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• First ministerial meeting scheduled for October 30.
• Aim: Build comprehensive, rapid response system for bear-related incidents.
• Previous response involved Environment, Agriculture, and Transport Ministries.
• Kihara emphasized need for ‘more inclusive and dynamic measures.’
• Government committed to improving speed and effectiveness of response.
Summary
In response to the escalating severity of bear attacks across Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced on October 29 that the government will elevate its response framework from an inter-agency meeting to a ministerial meeting. This upgraded approach will include the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs, alongside existing participants such as the Environment, Agriculture, and Transport Ministries. The first ministerial meeting is set for October 30. Kihara highlighted the need for a more comprehensive and agile response system, stating that the government aims to enhance the speed and effectiveness of its measures. This decision reflects the administration’s commitment to addressing the issue with a unified and robust strategy.
