80-year-old woman from Aomori killed by bear – nationwide wave of attacks

An 80-year-old woman in Aomori Prefecture died on Tuesday after she was attacked by a bear while searching for bamboo shoots in the mountains.

She was discovered unconscious on Mount Hakkoda in Aomori City by another hunter at around 8:45 a.m., triggering a rescue operation by police and local hunters.

The woman was pronounced dead at around 3pm after being taken to a hospital in the city. Local officials said the attack by an Asian black bear measuring around 1.5 metres long likely occurred at around 8.30am.