Bear sighting in Utsunomiya forces closure of 94 schools

A bear roaming the streets of Utsunomiya, Japan, for three days has forced the closure of nearly 100 schools and prompted a large-scale search, as officials urge residents to stay indoors. The city government closed all 94 public primary and junior high schools on Monday, June 8, 2026, following more than a dozen bear sightings since Saturday in various locations, including a shopping arcade, parks, and residential neighborhoods.

The animal, described as being around one meter long, was first spotted north of the city center on Saturday morning. Subsequent sightings were reported in a residential area that day, at a shopping arcade on Sunday, and near a park, a high school, and a junior high school. The most recent sighting occurred early Monday near a wholesale market, approximately half a kilometer from a middle school. The bear remains at large.

Dozens of hunters, police officers, and local officials are searching for the animal. City officials have deployed vehicles to areas where the bear was seen to warn the public. A city official, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said the primary goal is to make people aware and urge them to stay indoors or in vehicles....