World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Hachioji Mayor Fails Hunting License Exam Amid Bear Sightings
Hachioji Mayor Kazuo Shiyake failed Tokyo’s hunting license exam after taking it on Oct.
31.
The city in suburban Tokyo has had a spate of bear sightings, and Shiyake wanted to use the knowledge to help with wildlife damage control.
He applied for net, trapping and gun hunting licenses.
Shiyake said he thought he failed because he lacked enough knowledge about wild birds and animals other than large animals.
On the same day the city announced the result, bear claw marks were found on a persimmon tree in Hachioji.
He says he will continue studying wildlife damage control and work to strengthen measures against bears, but has not decided whether to take the exam again.
Hachioji Mayor Kazuo Shiyake failed a Tokyo hunting license examination he took amid bear sightings.
He applied for net hunting, trapping and Category 1 gun hunting licenses.
Shiyake said he lacked enough knowledge about wild birds and animals other than large animals.
He said he would continue studying wildlife damage control while prioritizing his official duties.
Claw marks from an Asian black bear were found on a persimmon tree in Hachioji on Nov. 2.
- Who
- Hachioji Mayor Kazuo Shiyake, a former Maritime Self-Defense Force member.
- What
- He failed Tokyo’s hunting license examination after applying for three types of licenses.
- When
- He took the examination on Oct. 31, 2026. The city announced the result on Nov. 2.
- Where
- Hachioji, a city in suburban Tokyo; the examination was run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
- Why
- He said he wanted to use his experience to help with wildlife damage control.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Shiyake announced that he intended to take the examination to put his experience to use in wildlife damage control.
Shiyake took the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s hunting license examination.
Hachioji announced that Shiyake had failed the examination, and bear claw marks were found on a persimmon tree in the city.
- Mayor
- Kazuo Shiyake
- Examination date
- Oct. 31, 2026
- Licenses applied for
- Net hunting, trapping and Category 1 gun hunting
- Result announced
- Nov. 2, 2026
- Bear evidence
- Claw marks on a persimmon tree in Hachioji
What people are saying
I believe I failed because I lacked sufficient hunting knowledge about wild birds and animals other than large animals.
I have not decided whether to take the examination again, but I will prioritize my official duties while continuing to deepen my knowledge of wildlife damage control.