Japanese Bear Hunt?

[WoodlandCritter]

My girlfriend and I have been discussing a trip to Japan for sometime now, and I would say its finally looking like a real possibility within the next 3 years or so. I'm well aware that the possibility of being able to hunt in Japan is essentially zero. But I was wondering if anyone here has any idea on the feasibility of being able to tag along as an observer on an Ainu bear hunt? And if so, if they might have any leads on how to arrange such a thing?

Most of the stuff to do in Japan is very urban-centric, so there's not a ton of information online about what you can do in the woods besides some incredibly touristy stuff, which I'm not into. So naturally there's even less information about any kind of hunting activity there besides a couple forum posts and some articles with a thinly veiled anti-hunting bent to them.

 

[RockAndSage]

My girlfriend and I have been discussing a trip to Japan for sometime now, and I would say its finally looking like a real possibility within the next 3 years or so. I'm well aware that the possibility of being able to hunt in Japan is essentially zero. But I was wondering if anyone here has any idea on the feasibility of being able to tag along as an observer on an Ainu bear hunt? And if so, if they might have any leads on how to arrange such a thing?

Most of the stuff to do in Japan is very urban-centric, so there's not a ton of information online about what you can do in the woods besides some incredibly touristy stuff, which I'm not into. So naturally there's even less information about any kind of hunting activity there besides a couple forum posts and some articles with a thinly veiled anti-hunting bent to them.

Best place to start with this would be to reach out to the Japanese Consulate in Seattle - WA, N. ID, and Montana are its areas of jurisdiction. You're looking for either the Cultural Affairs Attache, or the contact/email of the individual handling their cultural affairs portfolio.

Be very polite in your email, thank them up front for what they do, and then respectfully note that you're considering a trip to Japan, and would deeply appreciate their help in facilitating an uncommon interest of visitors to their country. Note that you value your own cultural heritage of hunting, and would deeply appreciate the rare opportunity to meet Japanese hunters of bears in Japan. And, if at all possible, to also observe a hunt.

At a minimum, they should be able to put you in touch with a hunters' organization in Japan, and if you're lucky, they'll track down a contact person for you and facilitate the introduction. The Cultural Affairs attache's job is just this sort of thing - building bridges through cultural affinity and exchange. So, there's a high chance of some degree of help. But that's where I'd start.

Definitely let us know if you get traction on this, it'd be extremely interesting.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Best place to start is to not go to Japan with a GF, that's like taking sand to the beach...

 

[CMF]

I'm well aware that the possibility of being able to hunt in Japan is essentially zero.

Why is this?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Why is this?

Unless you speak fluent Japanese, know somebody to loan you a gun and are willing to do their exams for licensing it's pretty much a non starter.

not impossible but there's a lot of hurdles if you want to hunt there. China is tougher yet.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

Best place to start with this would be to reach out to the Japanese Consulate in Seattle - WA, N. ID, and Montana are its areas of jurisdiction. You're looking for either the Cultural Affairs Attache, or the contact/email of the individual handling their cultural affairs portfolio.

Be very polite in your email, thank them up front for what they do, and then respectfully note that you're considering a trip to Japan, and would deeply appreciate their help in facilitating an uncommon interest of visitors to their country. Note that you value your own cultural heritage of hunting, and would deeply appreciate the rare opportunity to meet Japanese hunters of bears in Japan. And, if at all possible, to also observe a hunt.

At a minimum, they should be able to put you in touch with a hunters' organization in Japan, and if you're lucky, they'll track down a contact person for you and facilitate the introduction. The Cultural Affairs attache's job is just this sort of thing - building bridges through cultural affinity and exchange. So, there's a high chance of some degree of help. But that's where I'd start.

Definitely let us know if you get traction on this, it'd be extremely interesting.

Awesome, thanks for the guidance! Will definitely report back if I get any headway.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

Why is this?

Some of the strictest gun control in the world. My understanding is its near impossible for a short term visitor to even participate at a skeet range. Forget about traipsing around the woods with a gun.

 

[CMF]

Some of the strictest gun control in the world. My understanding is its near impossible for a short term visitor to even participate at a skeet range. Forget about traipsing around the woods with a gun.

Got it. Seems like with the bear problem they have there, they would embrace hunting.

What about archery?

 

[medvedyt]

@WoodlandCritter

a good start:

一般社団法人日本狩猟協会

日本狩猟協会は、狩猟をアップデートする一般社団法人です。

www.japan-hunting-association.or.jp

i will say your first problem will be the language then the fact that only a few japanese are hunting and even less are using guns. will it be shotguns and even less rifles.

i guided few japanese hunters and they were not allowed to use their own rifles outside of the country but it was an interesting thing and trust they do not waste any meat including tongue and heart that most hunters are not using except i will say european ones. most of the hunters were using in their own country shotguns with rifle scopes as the local police requirement to keep rifles were too complicated. you should listen to them when they got the approval to purchase a firearm ... i did some competition shooting (mostly handguns but a little of skeet too) as well with japanese teams but not in their country.

archery is a little developed but again hunting is a thing of the past and the org and the gov will have to find a way to develop it as wild boar, deer and bears (for the bears mostly northern parts) are a problem everywhere.

as a foreigner you won t be able to borrow a shotgun (not event talking about rifle lol) for archery in the past it was possible to hunt wild boar and deer but never bear (not considered game) but i do not know what is the actual situation.

there is some talk about changing that but thinking that the changes will come fast is of course forgetting how japanese administration is running: see how here in north america how long it is taking to make positive changes for hunting and multiply the time by 1000 and you will get an idea.

good luck in your project.

 

[welkin]

@WoodlandCritter

a good start:

一般社団法人日本狩猟協会

日本狩猟協会は、狩猟をアップデートする一般社団法人です。

www.japan-hunting-association.or.jp

i will say your first problem will be the language then the fact that only a few japanese are hunting and even less are using guns. will it be shotguns and even less rifles.

i guided few japanese hunters and they were not allowed to use their own rifles outside of the country but it was an interesting thing and trust they do not waste any meat including tongue and heart that most hunters are not using except i will say european ones. most of the hunters were using in their own country shotguns with rifle scopes as the local police requirement to keep rifles were too complicated. you should listen to them when they got the approval to purchase a firearm ... i did some competition shooting (mostly handguns but a little of skeet too) as well with japanese teams but not in their country.

archery is a little developed but again hunting is a thing of the past and the org and the gov will have to find a way to develop it as wild boar, deer and bears (for the bears mostly northern parts) are a problem everywhere.

as a foreigner you won t be able to borrow a shotgun (not event talking about rifle lol) for archery in the past it was possible to hunt wild boar and deer but never bear (not considered game) but i do not know what is the actual situation.

there is some talk about changing that but thinking that the changes will come fast is of course forgetting how japanese administration is running: see how here in north america how long it is taking to make positive changes for hunting and multiply the time by 1000 and you will get an idea.

good luck in your project.

I have read that with all the recent bear problems there some bear hunting is happening. Maybe it's just a temporary measure. I saw a picture in an article of a guy with a pretty massive looking brown bear he had shot.

 

[medvedyt]

I have read that with all the recent bear problems there some bear hunting is happening. Maybe it's just a temporary measure. I saw a picture in an article of a guy with a pretty massive looking brown bear he had shot.

ok maybe i was not clear enough: there is not hunting for bear and it is called predator control as bear is not classified as game yet. they are talking about pushing the mandate from control to hunt but as i explained it is easier said or written than put in place. there are some areas in japan where they do not hunt wild boar but they trap them and they (prefecture) are asking hunters to do so like for the bear thus the confusion on hunting versus predator control.

so as it is not classified a game animal yet i do not see a foreigner going on a bear hunt very soon as a hunter ...

 

[RADunfee]

I have read that with all the recent bear problems there some bear hunting is happening. Maybe it's just a temporary measure. I saw a picture in an article of a guy with a pretty massive looking brown bear he had shot.

They actually use the military to hunt problems bears in many areas. It takes like 10 years to get a rifle license and you have to hunt with shotgun (slugs) until then. Even then its very difficult to get government permission.

 

[welkin]

They actually use the military to hunt problems bears in many areas. It takes like 10 years to get a rifle license and you have to hunt with shotgun (slugs) until then. Even then its very difficult to get government permission.

From CNN:

But the troops won’t be culling the bears – they’re not allowed to under Japanese law. Instead, they’ll provide logistical support, like setting up traps and transporting carcasses shot by hunters.

The actual culling is reserved for licensed hunters and local hunting associations, some of whom do it recreationally or as a part-time job. But this group is shrinking and aging rapidly amid Japan’s demographic crisis, Reuters reported last year – prompting fears that they alone can’t handle the scope of the problem.

The National Police Agency announced Thursday riot police would be authorized to shoot the animals in residential areas of Akita and Iwate prefectures, when hunters can’t respond in time.