According to a report by the Japanese Fuji News Network, in order to address the increasing number of bear attacks, a Japanese company has developed an app called 'Kumamap'. This app will be officially launched on July 13. Its main function is to automatically issue alerts about the presence of bears based on the user's location.
According to the introduction, this application began development in October 2024. It will first be launched in Akita Prefecture, and then expanded to other prefectures in northeastern Japan, such as Iwate Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, and Fukushima Prefecture.
In addition to automatically receiving dangerous information without the need for self-searching, this app also allows users to view the latest locations where bears are present on the map. Users can post their own eyewitness reports, and the AI will review the information. Moreover, if a user has registered locations they frequent, such as home, school, or workplace, they will receive immediate notifications whenever a bear appears in the vicinity of those locations.
Before being fully put into operation, the application launched a one-month pilot project on June 1st. During this period, some users and elderly people expressed concerns, such as: "I don't understand what downloading and installing means" and "I'm a little afraid of AI."
Since last year, bear attacks have become frequent in Japan, with several fatal incidents occurring. As of 2025, 13 people have died as a result of bear attacks, and by 2026, 4 people had been killed by bears.
According to statistics from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, a total of 216 people in Japan were injured by bears, which is much higher than the 3 deaths and 82 injuries recorded in the year 2024.
