An 81-year-old woman in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, was found dead in her home on July 4, 2025, with wounds consistent with a bear attack, according to local authorities. The woman was discovered in her living room bleeding from claw marks, and police believe a bear entered the residence and attacked her. The bear responsible had not been immediately located, but there had been multiple bear sightings and related property damage in the area since late June, including a bear occupying a nearby warehouse and damaging rice bags. In response, local authorities set traps and opened evacuation centers to protect residents. On July 11, a bear was culled approximately 1.2 kilometers from the victim's home, near a shed where it had been reported making noise. The bear is suspected to be the same individual that attacked the woman, and DNA testing is underway to confirm this. The incident has heightened vigilance in Kitakami as authorities continue their efforts to manage bear activity in the region.