Japan bear crisis sparks culinary crazeAFP, CHICHIBU, JapanSince Japan recorded a spike in deadly bear attacks, Koji Suzuki has struggled to keep up with booming demand for grilled cuts of the animal at his restaurant. A restaurant worker grills fish over a hearth at a restaurant that offers bear meat in Chichibu, Japan, on Dec. 12. People eat bear meat hot pot at a restaurant in Chichibu, Japan, on Dec. 12. However, much of the bear meat still goes to waste, partly due to a shortage of government-approved processing facilities. “Bear meat is a tourism resource for us,” he said.

Source: Taipei Times December 24, 2025 16:55 UTC