1. Increased bear sightings and attacks in Tokyo prompted a warning from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Officers are urged to use handguns only in extreme circumstances due to their limited effectiveness against bears.
2. The study by the Tokyo police department and the National Research Institute of Police Science found that bullets may not penetrate bears due to factors like a thick layer of fat under their skin and the hardness of their skull, potentially causing agitation and further attacks.
3. In residential areas where bears appear, police officers will prioritize resident safety, coordinating evacuation efforts with local municipalities and hunters.