1. A man in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, was attacked by a bear while walking his dog on Wednesday morning, prompting concerns about increasing bear encounters in the area.
2. The city and police have dispatched officials to patrol the site of the attack, an area of rice paddies near the city hall, and nearby locations where other bear sightings were reported, including Morioka City.
3. On the same day, bear sightings were also reported in Morioka City, with one instance occurring close to the city hall and another near a junior high school, leading to temporary school closures as a precautionary measure. Authorities believe these sightings may be related to the same animal. No injuries have been reported.