Japan has two main species of bears: the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus), commonly known as the Japanese black bear, and the brown bear (Ursus arctos lasiotus), also called the Ussuri brown bear or Ezo brown bear. The Japanese black bear is mostly found on the main islands of Honshu and Shikoku. It is recognized by a distinctive white "V" marking on its chest. This species is smaller and generally less aggressive than the brown bear but can still be dangerous. The population on Shikoku is endangered, and they are likely extinct on Kyushu. The brown bear is primarily found on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. These bears are large and closely related to the North American grizzly bears. They inhabit dense forests and are considered more aggressive than the black bears. The Ussuri brown bear population is estimated to be around 2,200 in Hokkaido, but possibly more. In summary, Japan's bear species distribution is:
- Asiatic black bear (Japanese black bear) on Honshu and Shikoku.
- Brown bear (Ussuri brown bear) on Hokkaido.
These bears are known to sometimes enter human-inhabited areas, especially when natural food sources are scarce, leading to occasional bear attacks.
