UTSUNOMIYA, Japan — Authorities closed all 94 public primary and junior high schools in Utsunomiya on Monday after multiple sightings of a bear in the city, marking the first confirmed appearance of the animal in the municipality, local officials said.
The bear, described as a medium-sized Asiatic black bear about one meter long, was first spotted on Saturday evening near a park in a residential area, according to the city government. Subsequent sightings were reported on Sunday in a shopping arcade and other locations, prompting an extensive search involving dozens of hunters and officials.
Utsunomiya, a city of about 500,000 residents located roughly 100 km north of Tokyo, has no prior history of bear sightings, officials said. The decision to suspend classes affected thousands of students and was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.
City officials urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid outdoor areas where the bear might appear. Police and hunting teams continued searching the area on Monday, deploying vehicles and conducting patrols, according to local media reports.
The incident comes amid a broader increase in bear sightings and encounters across Japan this year. Experts attribute the rise to factors including a growing bear population and habitat changes, with record numbers of sightings reported in previous years.
In a statement, a Utsunomiya municipal official said the closures were necessary given the unprecedented situation. “We have vehicles out to search for the bear,” the official told reporters.
Similar temporary closures and restrictions on outdoor activities have occurred in other parts of Japan in recent months, including in Hiroshima and Fukushima prefectures, where bears were sighted near schools and residential zones.
No injuries from the Utsunomiya bear have been reported. Classes at the affected schools were expected to resume once the situation is deemed safe, though no specific timeline was provided.
As of Monday evening, the search for the bear remained ongoing. Local authorities advised residents to report any further sightings immediately to emergency services.
