Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Robot wolf to scare away bears

Yuji Ota, president of precision machining company Ohta Seiki, shows off in Naie in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, the Monster Wolf robot, which emits LED light and loud sounds to scare off wild animals when its infrared sensor activates. The company, based in the Hokkaido town, developed the tool amid a spate of bear attacks on humans, some fatal, across Japan this year.

E

Robot wolf to scare away bears

Photo taken in Naie in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, shows the Monster Wolf robot, which emits LED light and loud sounds to scare off wild animals when its infrared sensor activates. Precision machining company Ohta Seiki, based in the Hokkaido town, developed the tool amid a spate of bear attacks on humans, some fatal, across Japan this year.

E

[Breaking News]Police allowed to shoot bears in Japan

AKITA, Japan, Nov. 13 Kyodo - Police officers attend a ceremony held to mark the formation of a bear-hunting team in Akita, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, as amended rules take effect permitting police officers to use rifles to kill bears the same day amid a surge in attacks on humans. (Kyodo)

E

Police allowed to shoot bears in Japan

Police officers attend a ceremony held to mark the formation of a bear-hunting team in Akita, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, as amended rules take effect permitting police officers to use rifles to kill bears the same day amid a surge in attacks on humans.

E

Police allowed to shoot bears in Japan

Police officers attend a ceremony held to mark the formation of a bear-hunting team in Akita, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, as amended rules take effect permitting police officers to use rifles to kill bears the same day amid a surge in attacks on humans.

E

Police allowed to shoot bears in Japan

Police officers attend a ceremony held to mark the formation of a bear-hunting team in Takizawa in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, as amended rules take effect permitting police officers to use rifles to kill bears the same day amid a surge in attacks on humans.

E

Police allowed to shoot bears in Japan

Police officers leave after the ceremonial formation of a bear-hunting team in Takizawa in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 13, 2025, as amended rules take effect permitting police officers to use rifles to kill bears the same day amid a surge in attacks on humans.

E

Off-limit park after bear sightings

Photo taken on Nov. 7, 2025, shows Senshu Park in the city of Akita in Akita Prefecture to which public access is prohibited after bears were sighted amid a recent spate of attacks on humans in the northeastern Japan prefecture.

E

Off-limit park after bear sightings

Photo taken on Nov. 7, 2025, shows Senshu Park in the city of Akita in Akita Prefecture to which public access is prohibited after bears were sighted amid a recent spate of attacks on humans in the northeastern Japan prefecture.

E

Japan: Bear Incidents Spike in Northern Regions Ahead of Hibernation Season 5

Bear incidents have been increasing in northern Japan. Between April 2025 and March 2026, seven people were killed, marking the highest number of fatalities since records began in 2006. Bears become more active in the autumn before hibernation, so the Ministry of the Environment is urging people to exercise caution.

E

Japan: Bear Incidents Spike in Northern Regions Ahead of Hibernation Season 4

Bear incidents have been increasing in northern Japan. Between April 2025 and March 2026, seven people were killed, marking the highest number of fatalities since records began in 2006. Bears become more active in the autumn before hibernation, so the Ministry of the Environment is urging people to exercise caution.

E

Japan: Bear Incidents Spike in Northern Regions Ahead of Hibernation Season 3

Bear incidents have been increasing in northern Japan. Between April 2025 and March 2026, seven people were killed, marking the highest number of fatalities since records began in 2006. Bears become more active in the autumn before hibernation, so the Ministry of the Environment is urging people to exercise caution. This video was shot in Shari, Hokkaido on October 16.

E

Japan: Bear Incidents Spike in Northern Regions Ahead of Hibernation Season

A wild bear was spotted running on the sidewalk in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture on Thursday, October 16. Bear incidents have been increasing in northern Japan. Between April 2025 and March 2026, seven people were killed, marking the highest number of fatalities since records began in 2006. Bears become more active in the autumn before hibernation, so the Ministry of the Environment is urging people to exercise caution.

E

Japan: Wild Bear Spotted on Roadside in Southern Hokkaido

A wild bear was seen eating grass by the roadside in Kaminokuni, in southern Hokkaido, on Monday, September 15.

E

Japan: Bear Sightings Surge Across Country, Fatalities Reported 2

Japan recorded 55 bear attacks between April and July 2025, leaving three people dead and dozens injured. Authorities say sightings have surged nationwide, including 154 cases in Tokyo by August 21, as a growing Asiatic black bear population increasingly pushes into towns and cities. This vides shows a bear spotted in Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, northeast Japan on August 12, 2025.

E

Japan: Bear Sightings Surge Across Country, Fatalities Reported

Japan recorded 55 bear attacks between April and July 2025, leaving three people dead and dozens injured. Authorities say sightings have surged nationwide, including 154 cases in Tokyo by August 21, as a growing Asiatic black bear population increasingly pushes into towns and cities. This vides shows a bear spotted in Taiwa, Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Japan on August 15, 2025.

E

Bear family seen in Hokkaido

Photo taken on May 14, 2025, shows a bear and two cubs walking on a road in Shiretoko National Park in the northern Japanese town of Shari in Hokkaido. In Japan, sightings of bears coming down to populated areas in search of food, as well as reports of attacks on humans by the animals, are on the rise.

E

80th anniversary of WWII ground battle in Okinawa

ITOMAN, Japan, June 24 Kyodo - Video shows flowers at the "cornerstone of peace" monument at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on June 23, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The monument bears the names of all people who perished in the battle including civilians. (Kyodo)

E

80th anniversary of WWII ground battle in Okinawa

Photo shows flowers at the "cornerstone of peace" monument at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on June 23, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The monument bears the names of all people who perished in the battle including civilians.

E

80th anniversary of WWII ground battle in Okinawa

Photo shows flowers at the "cornerstone of peace" monument at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on June 23, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The monument bears the names of all people who perished in the battle including civilians.

E

80th anniversary of WWII ground battle in Okinawa

Photo shows paper cranes at the "cornerstone of peace" monument at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on June 23, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The monument bears the names of all people who perished in the battle including civilians.

E

80th anniversary of WWII ground battle in Okinawa

Photo shows a paper crane and sunflowers at the "cornerstone of peace" monument at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on June 23, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The monument bears the names of all people who perished in the battle including civilians.

E

Brown bears at northern Japan zoo

Twin brown bears wait for cookies at Kushiro city zoo in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on June 5, 2025.

E

Brown bears at northern Japan zoo

Twin brown bears wait for cookies at Kushiro city zoo in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on June 5, 2025.

E

Brown bears at northern Japan zoo

Twin brown bears wait for cookies at Kushiro city zoo in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on June 5, 2025.

E

Drill to prevent brown bear attacks in northern Japan

A drone equipped with an infrared camera and a microphone takes off during a drill to prevent brown bear attacks, in the town of Horokanai on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on May 14, 2024. The local municipality introduced the drone to detect and chase away brown bears after an angler was killed by one at Lake Shumarinai in the town in May 2023.

E

Hokkaido zoo animals cool off with ice

Polar bears are given a large ice block to beat the heat at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on July 20, 2023.

E

Hokkaido zoo animals cool off with ice

Polar bears are given a large ice block to beat the heat at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on July 20, 2023.

E

Jelly-like drink with tennis star's favorite flavor on sale

TOKYO, Japan - A jelly-like drink featuring a flavor favored by top Japanese pro tennis player Kei Nishikori, shown in this undated photo, is on sale from Moringa & Co. The package of the product, a "KEI Special Orange Taste" version of "Weider in Jelly," bears a copy of his signature and message.

E

WWII survivor recalls wartime ordeal at peace park

TOKYO, Japan - Ikuko Yasuda, 89, stands in front of the Peace Tower at Heiwadai Park in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 15, 2014, recalling her experiences as a student during World War I, including being enlisted to help level the ground for the tower's construction and sending off "kamikaze" suicide attack squads. The tower was originally constructed in 1940 to celebrate the 2,600th anniversary of the ascension of Japan's mythical first emperor and bears the inscription "Hakko Ichiu," meaning "united under one roof," a phrase often used by imperialists rallying for Japanese reign in Asia during the war. (Photo by Makoto Hori)

E

Hokkaido to ban feeding brown bears to protect ecology

TOKYO, Japan - Brown bears look for pink salmon at a river mouth on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido in this file photo taken on Sept. 9, 2014. Japan's northernmost prefectural government is set to designate brown bears from 2015 as subject to its biodiversity conservation ordinance, which prohibits feeding wild animals to protect ecology.

E

Brown bears in Shiretoko Peninsula

SHARI, Japan - A brown bear is seen catching a pink salmon at a river on the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site in eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island prefecture, on Sept. 10, 2014. The peninsula is blessed with abundant nature and inhabited by brown bears.

E

Brown bears in Shiretoko Peninsula

SHARI, Japan - A brown bear and its cubs are seen hunting for pink salmon at a river on the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site in eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island prefecture, on Sept. 10, 2014. The peninsula is blessed with abundant nature and inhabited by brown bears.

E

Brown bears in Shiretoko Peninsula

SHARI, Japan - A brown bear with a pink salmon in its mouth and its cubs are seen at a river on the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site in eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island prefecture, on Sept. 10, 2014. The peninsula is blessed with abundant nature and inhabited by brown bears.

E

Brown bears in Shiretoko Peninsula

SHARI, Japan - A brown bear and its cubs are seen hunting for pink salmon at a river on the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site in eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island prefecture, on Sept. 10, 2014. The peninsula is blessed with abundant nature and inhabited by brown bears.

E

No. of koalas kept at Japanese zoos dropping

NAGOYA, Japan - One of five koala bears kept at Nagoya's Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens eats eucalyptus on Aug. 5, 2014. The cost of cultivating the plant is rising while the number of koalas kept at Japanese zoos is declining as they age.

E

Limited Express Rapi:t Neo Zeon Version

OSAKA, Japan - Nankai Electric Railway Co. unveils on April 24, 2014 the six-car limited express train Rapi:t that bears a red exterior instead of its customary blue in Osaka, western Japan, in homage to the villain organization Neo Zeon from the popular anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn."

E

Polar bears in Akita

AKITA, Japan - Polar bear Miruku (R), 13 months old, receives a snow cake at Oga Aquarium Gao in Oga, Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 26, 2014, during a ceremony before her departure for a zoo in Hokkaido. At left is her mother Kurumi.

E

2 women die at bear farm in Akita

SENDAI, Japan - Photo from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the bodies of bears shot dead by local hunters after they escaped from their corral at the Hachimantai Bear Farm in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, on April 20, 2012. The hunters shot six fleeing bears dead as two female employees at the bear park died the same day, after apparently being attacked by the animals.

E

Tokyo Sky Tree Station

TOKYO, Japan - A station on Tobu Railway Co's Tobu Isesaki Line bears its new name -- Tokyo Sky Tree Station -- in the early hours of March 17, 2012. The nearest rail stop to the world's tallest tower (top) was renamed that day from the former Narihirabashi Station.

E

Icicle gift to newlywed polar bear couple

OSAKA, Japan - Six-year-old male polar bear Gogo (L) and his 19-year-old ''wife'' Baffin, play with an icicle containing apples at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka in western Japan on July 23, 2011. The zoo gave four of the icicles to the bears, who ''tied the knot'' in March when Baffin was transferred there from a zoo in Hamamatsu, central Japan, as part of a polar bear breeding program.

E

Bears in town

IDE, Japan - Three bears descend a tree in the yard of a house in a residential area in Ide, Yamagata Prefecture, on Oct. 21, 2010, after staying in the tree for about four and a half hours. The animals returned to the wild. Residents evacuated the neighborhood while pupils of an elementary school were ordered to stay home.

E

Terajima wins best actress at Berlin film festival

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima expresses her delight to reporters in Osaka on Feb. 21, 2010, after winning the Silver Bears award for Best Actress at the Berlin film festival for her role in the film ''Caterpillar.'' Terajima became the first Japanese actress in 35 years to win the award.

E

Terajima wins best actress at Berlin film festival

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima expresses her delight to reporters in Osaka on Feb. 21, 2010, after winning the Silver Bears award for Best Actress at the Berlin film festival for her role in the film ''Caterpillar.'' Terajima became the first Japanese actress in 35 years to win the award.

E

Terajima wins best actress at Berlin film festival

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima expresses her delight to reporters in Osaka on Feb. 21, 2010, after winning the Silver Bears award for Best Actress at the Berlin film festival for her role in the film ''Caterpillar.'' Terajima became the first Japanese actress in 35 years to win the award.

E

Supreme Court releases trial badge to be given to lay judges

TOKYO, Japan - A badge that will be given to citizens to commemorate their participation in Japan's just-launched lay judge system is released by the Supreme Court on May 29. The front of the badge (L) bears two linked circles, one representing a lay judge and the other a professional judge, while the back bears an inscription of the name of the court attended by the lay judge.

E

Kyushu shrine conducts 1,300-year-old seaweed-offering event

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Two priests (L) at Mekari Shrine in Kitakyushu reap wakame seaweed while one priest bears a torch in the early morning at ebb tide of Jan. 26, or Jan. 1 by the lunar calendar, before offering it at the shrine. About 100 people watched the 1,300-year-old annual event held in hopes of safe navigation and a good haul.

E

Wives of DPJ leaders pitch for party

TOKYO, Japan - Miyuki Hatoyama (C), wife of now Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama, Nobuko Kan (R), wife of now Acting DPJ President Naoto Kan, and other women are seen drumming up support for the party during a rally in Tokyo's Sugamo district on Oct. 26, 2008. Each of the aprons bears the slogan: ''Change!'' and ''A Change of Government.''

E

Chihuahua with heart mark wins hearts in Akita dogs' heartland

AKITA, Japan - A new-born male Chihuahua (photo taken in late June) bears a light brown heart-shaped mark, catching the fancy of pet owners and animal lovers in Akita Prefecture, the heartland of Akita dogs. The dog, being raised at a local pet shop, is not for sale.

E

Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters claim Asia Series title

TOKYO, Japan - Members of Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters march at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 12 after their victory in the Asia Series by beating the La New Bears of Taiwan.