A 26-year-old hiker named Sota Keisuke (also reported as Keisuke Sota) was fatally attacked by a brown bear while descending Mount Rausu in Hokkaido’s Shiretoko Mountain Range on August 14, 2025. His friend witnessed the bear drag him into the forest near 550 meters elevation, prompting a trail closure and evacuation of 71 people.
GPS Watch Insights
Data from Keisuke’s GPS smartwatch revealed critical details post-attack. It showed deviation from the trail down a forested slope around 11 a.m., trembling and circling in thick brush indicating struggle, and his heart stopping 109-142 yards off-trail. The device remained stationary overnight before moving several hundred yards the next morning around 9 a.m., suggesting the bear returned to drag the body.
Search and Recovery
Rescuers found bloodstained clothing, a wallet, and backpack near the site on August 15. Hunters encountered and killed a mother brown bear with two cubs dragging the body about 200 meters (656 feet) southwest of the trail; remains were also in an earth mound nearby. Cause of death was blood loss from bite and scratch wounds; parents identified him at Shari Police Station, advised to view only his face due to injuries.
Broader Context
This marked the first recorded bear attack in the Shiretoko Range in 63 years, amid rising incidents—13 deaths and over 100 injuries nationwide since April 2025. Mount Rausu, a UNESCO World Heritage site with high bear density, was closed following the event. DNA tests were planned to confirm the bears’ involvement.
