(MENAFN) A 69-year-old man was assaulted by a bear inside a public restroom near a train station in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, early Friday morning, according to reports.

The security guard told authorities that he noticed the bear peering inside the restroom just as he was about to leave. He sustained minor scratches to his right leg, and after falling onto his backside, he managed to fend off the animal by kicking it, prompting the bear—estimated to be 1 to 1.5 meters long—to flee.

The man then ran to a nearby police box to report the incident.

Japan has seen an increase in bear encounters, largely attributed to food shortages in their natural habitats. Between April and October, 197 bear attack cases were reported, nearing the annual record of 219 incidents documented in fiscal 2023, according to preliminary figures from the Environment Ministry.

MENAFN29112025000045017281ID1110413195