Why Bears Are Appearing in Human Spaces—Changes to the Environment and Regional Society (Dr. Shinsuke Koike, Professor, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)

OVERVIEW実施概要

Date & Time 14:00-15:30, Friday, October 23, 2026 Application Deadline 12:00, Thursday, October 22 Theme Why Bears Are Appearing in Human Spaces—Changes to the Environment and Regional Society Briefer Dr. Shinsuke Koike, Professor, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Brief Bio: Professor at the Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), and Director of the university's Center for Wildlife Management Education and Research. He graduated from TUAT in 2001, and received his Ph.D. from TUAT in 2008 majoring in agriculture. Author of books such as “Asian Black Bears” (Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan Co., Ltd.) and “Will Bears Appear in the City Center?” (FUSOSHA Publishing Inc.). Has also served as the representative of the NGO Japan Bear Network since 2024.

Language Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation

In recent years, bear encounters have been occurring throughout Japan, with both human injury and damage to agricultural products making this a major issue. With sightings increasing even in urban and residential areas, there is growing interest in why bears are appearing in areas of human habitation, and in the changes to the natural environment and regional society behind these sightings. How is the environment that separated people from wild animals changing due to population decline, regional depopulation, and increased abandoned farmland? What impact are changes to the natural environment, such as climate change, having on the ecology and activities of bears?

The FPCJ has invited Dr. Shinsuke Koike, a professor at the Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, to discuss why bears are appearing in human spaces more often in recent years from the perspectives of both the ecology of bears and of changes to the natural environment and regional society. He will also discuss the current state of bear management in Japan, national and local government initiatives, and how humans and bears should coexist moving forward. Additionally, he will cover basic safety measures residents and visiting tourists should know in case they should encounter a bear.

Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.

Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also participate in the briefing as observers (admission free).

As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.

Members of the Foreign Press:

Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to [email protected] by 12:00 on Tuesday, October 20. As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.

Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also watch the briefing as observers (admission free).

■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.
*We will not be accepting applications by email.