Japan has deployed Self-Defense Forces troops to northern Akita prefecture to assist in trapping bears following a surge in attacks.
The operation targets communities struggling with frequent bear intrusions as the animals forage ahead of hibernation.
Since April, more than 100 people have been attacked nationwide, with at least 12 killed, according to the Ministry of the Environment.
Two-thirds of the fatalities occurred in Akita and nearby Iwate.
Bear sightings in Akita have increased six-fold to over 8,000 this year.
Troops arrived in Kazuno, a town of about 30,000 residents known for hot springs and apple orchards, on Wednesday.
Soldiers equipped with body armor, bear spray, shields, and long poles are transporting and setting steel-barred box traps baited with food.
They will inspect traps and help dispose of captured bears, which are shot by trained local hunters.
The agreement, signed between the Defense Ministry and Akita prefecture, lasts until the end of November and extends to Odate and Kitaakita.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized that troops will not use firearms for culling, as their primary role remains national defense.
Bears have damaged orchards, eating over 200 apples from one operator, and appeared near homes, schools, and supermarkets.
Residents report altered daily lives, avoiding outdoors after dark and canceling events.
Most attacks happen in residential areas, often involving elderly people foraging or working on farms.
Experts attribute the problem to a growing bear population estimated at over 54,000, combined with aging rural communities and fewer trained hunters.
Abandoned farmland with fruit trees attracts bears, who return once food is found.
The government has formed a task force to develop responses, including population surveys and potential hunting rule changes by mid-November.