How a small town spat in Hokkaido nearly derailed its bear response measures

SAPPORO –

A recent confrontation between a Hokkaido town assembly member and a hunters’ association shines a light on how graying and shrinking towns are dealing with the growing bear threat.

The trouble began on Sept. 27 in Shakotan, a small town on the Sea of Japan coast west of Otaru. The town has a population of around 1,600, with nearly half of the residents age 65 or older.

Nine hunters from a hunting association in nearby Yoichi and three Shakotan officials had trapped a 284 kilogram brown bear in a steel cage, when Kazuyoshi Kaita, the vice-chair of the Shakotan town assembly, showed up.