Festival organisers in northeast Japan add bear safety measures as sightings surge

Japan's summer festival organizers are introducing new bear safety measures as sightings surge in the northeast, with Sendai's Tanabata Festival starting Thursday expecting over two million visitors. Sendai recorded 216 bear sightings from April to July, up 40% from last year. Precautions include whistles, bear spray, surveillance cameras, and automatic alerts; the festival may cancel if a bear appears within one kilometer. Other northeastern festivals are also preparing: Akita Kanto patrols with bear spray, while Aomori Nebuta relies on loud music. Last year saw 238 attacks and 13 deaths in Japan.