“東京にもクマ？”昭島市の河川敷にふん発見 各地で出没相次ぎ住民も不安（2026年05月29日）

(Broadcast May 28, 2026) Amid growing concerns about bears, droppings from what appeared to be a large animal were discovered at a softball field on a riverbank in Akishima City, Tokyo. A nearby resident commented: "It's more than just scary. If I actually encountered a bear, I wouldn't be able to do anything. It's dangerous. This isn't the time to be walking around carefree." Bear sightings are increasing in various locations. On the 28th, FNN cameras captured images of three bears climbing a tree. The three bears appeared in Aomori City. The reporting team discovered the bears in the mountains, less than 100 meters from a national highway. Two bears, believed to be cubs, were clinging to a tree. And at the very top of the tree was a large bear, believed to be the parent. The bears were munching on nuts. Three bears climbed a single tree, causing it to bend significantly under their weight, and its branches to sway. The sudden appearance of the bears created tension at the scene. Meanwhile, a bear cub appeared on the shore of a lake in Kitashiobara Village, Fukushima Prefecture. The bear was only about 10 meters away. It was moving slowly around on a kayak, perhaps searching for nuts or other food. Then, for a moment, it glanced directly at the camera. Eyewitness: "I encountered it while hiking. I've seen bears before in cars or at home, but seeing one at such close range was tense and surprising. It would have been terrifying if the mother bear had been there." Meanwhile, a bear appeared in front of a nursing home in Akita City. The staff member who witnessed it said they made eye contact with the bear. A staff member from the social welfare corporation Toyoseikai witnessed the sighting: "A bear was standing on a small path outside the facility grounds, facing us. I think a bear could climb over a fence, so if it came towards us, we wouldn't be able to escape. It was terrifying to see such a large bear in a place where people are." In Akita City, there have been 53 bear sightings in the past week, more than four times the number for 2025. Amid growing concerns about bears, our reporting team headed to Akishima City, Tokyo. On May 24th, we confirmed the presence of large animal droppings at a softball field on the Tama River embankment. This area of ​​the riverbank is a recreational area used by local residents for walks and jogging. The discovery of droppings from what appears to be a large animal, including a bear, has prompted comments from nearby residents such as, "This is unthinkable in our current living situation. I could understand if it were deep in the mountains, but it's not like that. It's a little scary," and "It's frightening. To think that there might be a bear around here... Honestly, I don't think there's anything we can do to prevent it. My husband and I were just talking about how there might be one here." In Hachioji City, adjacent to Akishima City, bears have been sighted repeatedly since April. Nearby resident: "I think it's probably moving along the river. This is really not something we can ignore." There were also reports of bear-like animal sightings in the city two years ago. Akishima City, currently conducting inspections to identify the type of animal, is urging residents to "exercise extreme caution when using the Tama River riverbed and other areas."