Bear drill takes place following recent attacks in Japan

Following the recent attacks across Japan, the police in Tochigi Prefecture, approximately 100 km north of Tokyo, and the local hunters' club conducted a bear drill on Monday.

The exercise was conducted in a mountainous area in which police demonstrated how to scare off a wild bear using fireworks.

According to the local police, there have been three sightings of wild bears reported this year in Tochigi Prefecture.

A 52-year-old newspaper deliveryman died on July 12 after he was mauled by a bear in Fukushima, southern Hokkaido.

The following week, a male brown bear was shot dead in the town, and based on a DNA test, it was determined that it killed the delivery man and a woman her 70s four years ago.

On Monday, a farmer was attack by a wild bear in Akita Prefecture, northern Japan.

According to Japanese Public Broadcaster, NHK, since the start of July, more than 650 bear sightings have been reported in Akita, which is nearly triple the figure for the same period last year.