Japan is experiencing its deadliest surge in bear attacks, with over 100 people harmed and 12 fatalities since April, mainly in Akita and Iwate regions. Military personnel have been sent to Kazuno to assist in setting traps and aid local hunters. Authorities attribute the increase to factors such as a poor acorn crop, warmer winters, and declining rural populations pushing bears closer to human settlements. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has declared this a national emergency and plans to introduce new strategies, including boosting hunter numbers and improving reaction times, as bear encounters soar to historic highs.