A 26-year-old man from Tokyo, identified as Keisuke Sota, was found dead on Friday, one day after being attacked by a brown bear on a hiking trail on Mount Rausu in Hokkaido. The discovery brings a somber end to a search that began after his friend witnessed the fatal encounter.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning as Sota and his friend, both in their 20s, were descending Mount Rausu, which is part of the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site. According to his companion, Sota was walking ahead when a brown bear emerged. His friend reportedly saw him attempting to fight off the animal before it dragged him into the surrounding forest. The friend, who was uninjured, immediately contacted authorities.
Hokkaido police and local rescue teams launched a search, finding items including a bloodstained shirt, wallet, and watch belonging to the victim. The body of the man was discovered on Friday morning approximately 200 meters from the trail. Officials confirmed his identity in the afternoon.
Following the discovery, hunters located and killed a bear and two cubs in the vicinity of the body. Authorities are conducting DNA analysis to confirm if the animals were responsible for the attack. Entry to the mountain has been restricted since the incident. This marks the first recorded fatal bear attack on a hiking trail in the Shiretoko Mountain Range in 63 years.