Japan Bear Attacks

​Japan creates emergency plan to stop bear attacks

By Darren Walshe

English	Japanese	Romaji	Example Question
protect	守る	mamoru	How can we protect animals?
increase	増える	fueru	Why did the number increase?
dangerous	危険な	kiken na	What makes this area dangerous?
population	人口 / 個体数	jinkō / kotaisū	What is the population of bears?
reason	理由	riyū	What is the main reason?
report	報告する	hōkoku suru	Who will report the results?
region	地域	chiiki	Which region is affected?
target	目標	mokuhyō	What is the target number?

​Listening

Japan Creates Emergency Plan to Stop Bear Attacks

Japan’s government has made an emergency plan because bear attacks are increasing across the country. Since April, 13 people have died and more than 100 have been injured by bears. This is the highest number since records began in 2006. Experts say the plan is needed to protect people from more accidents.

The new plan includes reducing the number of bears in places where they have recently been seen. The government will also set capture targets for each region. In addition, many areas will create buffer zones to keep a safe distance between bear habitats and human towns.

In Japan, there are two kinds of bears. Their populations have become much larger over the past ten years. The number of Asian black bears has grown from about 15,000 in 2012 to around 44,000 today. Ussuri brown bears, which live mainly in Hokkaido, have also doubled in number.

There are several reasons for this increase. One reason is that beech nuts, an important food for bears, are becoming less available because of climate change. Another reason is that there are fewer licensed hunters, who used to help control bear numbers. Finally, many people have left rural areas, so bears are coming into towns and villages more often.

Multiple Choice

Japan has seen a rise in bear attacks this year.

Multiple Choice

Only a few people have been injured by bears since April.

Multiple Choice

Part of the plan is to reduce bear numbers in certain areas.

Multiple Choice

The plan does not include setting capture targets.

Multiple Choice

Japan has only one species of bear.

Multiple Choice

The number of Asian black bears has grown in the last decade.

Multiple Choice

A shortage of beech nuts is one reason bears are increasing.

Multiple Choice

More hunters today are helping reduce bear numbers.

Reorder

Paragraph #1

Japan’s government has made an (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) are increasing across the country

• emergency

• plan

• because

• bear

• attacks

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

Paragraph #1

How many people have died since April?

• 23

• 33

• 13

• 31

Fill in the Blank

Paragraph #2

 The government will also set (______) targets for each region.

Drag and Drop

Paragraph #2

Many areas will create ​

Placeholder

zones.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

desert

ocean

mountain

buffer

Reorder

Paragraph #3

Their populations (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) the past ten years.

• have

• become

• much

• larger

• over

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

Paragraph #3

How many Asian Black bear are there today?

• Around 14,000

• Around 41,000

• Around 44,000

• Around 4,000

Reorder

Paragraph #4

There (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) increase.

• are

• several

• reasons

• for

• this

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Fill in the Blank

Another reason is that there are fewer (_______) hunters

​Homework

🐻✨ EIKEN 3 Writing Prompt – “How Can We Reduce Bear Problems Humanely?”

(For High School ESL Students)

Prompt:
In Japan, bear attacks are increasing because more bears are entering towns and villages. The government is making a new plan to keep people safe and protect bears.

💬 Question: What humane idea do YOU have to help solve the bear problem?
Write 4–6 sentences explaining your idea.

やさしく (yasashiku) — “kindly / gently”

動物にやさしい方法で (dōbutsu ni yasashii hōhō de) — “in an animal-friendly way”