Bear crisis forces Japanese Ekiden team to withdraw from regional championships
A high school in Fukushima, Japan, has made the difficult decision to end its season early after a surge of bear encounters in the Akita region, where the regional Ekiden qualifiers were set to take place.
Fukushima’s Gakuho Ishikawa High School Ekiden team had been scheduled to compete at the Tohoku Ekiden Regional Championships in Akita City on Nov. 6. The Ekiden event, originally planned as a 42.2 km road relay (or 21.1 km for high school girls), was moved to the track after multiple bear sightings in and around the area.
Nationally-ranked Gakuho Ishikawa H.S. withdraws from region championships due to record number of bear attacks:
— Japan Running News (@JRNHeadlines) November 4, 2025
Event organizers in Akita said participation would be optional for schools, acknowledging safety concerns. A representative from Gakuho Ishikawa told Yahoo News Japan that even with the race moved to the track, “there’s still a possibility that athletes could encounter bears when training around the city.”
Northern Japan has seen an alarming rise in bear activity this year. Bears have been spotted inside supermarkets, schools and even a hot springs resort. According to the Ministry of the Environment, more than 100 people have been attacked and at least 13 killed since April, marking the highest toll in 15 years of record-keeping.
Experts believe Akita’s abundance of beech nuts and acorns has drawn bears into the region. Bears tend to become more active in the fall to prepare for winter hibernation, and when food runs short, they roam closer to populated areas.
Just three weeks ago, a New Zealand tourist was attacked by two black bears while trail running in Myoko, a few hours south of Akita, losing his arm in the struggle.
On Wednesday, NBC News reported that Japan has even deployed troops to the Akita Prefecture to address what officials are calling a “record wave” of deadly bear attacks.
Given the risks, Gakuho Ishikawa High School’s decision to withdraw its team was a no-brainer. The boys’ squad is one of Japan’s top Ekiden teams, having placed fifth at last year’s national championships in Kyoto.
