Japan’s escalating bear problem just reached a horrifying new level — right in the middle of a public train station.

A 69-year-old security guard was viciously attacked in the bathroom of JR Numata Station in Gunma Prefecture around 1 a.m. Friday, after a black bear suddenly appeared in the doorway like something out of a nightmare.

According to Kyodo News, the man had just finished his shift and was preparing to leave the restroom when he saw the animal’s face staring straight at him. Before he could react, the bear lunged — sending the guard crashing backward onto the cold tile floor.

Bleeding from his leg and terrified for his life, the man kicked wildly at the predator in a desperate fight for survival. “It just came at me out of nowhere,” he later told investigators, still shaken. “I thought I was going to die right there in that bathroom.”

After a few frantic moments, the bear — estimated to be between 3 and 5 feet tall — suddenly retreated, disappearing into the darkness of the closed station. The injured guard scrambled to a nearby police call box and frantically reported the attack.

Police and wildlife officers later searched the area, but the bear was nowhere to be found.

The shocking incident is the latest in a disturbing trend that has gripped Japan in 2025. Officials say there have been at least 197 bear attacks since April — with 13 people killed and dozens more seriously injured. The numbers are so high that experts warn the country is on pace to smash last year’s all-time record of 219 attacks.

Authorities believe the Asian black bears, once shy forest dwellers, are being driven into human areas by food shortages in the mountains caused by poor acorn harvests and climate shifts. Videos from across northern Japan have shown bears wandering through city streets, raiding garbage bins, and in some chilling cases — breaking into homes.

The government has launched emergency patrols and “bear alert” warning systems in several prefectures, but residents are still on edge.

“This year has been unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” one wildlife official told local media. “The bears are hungry, desperate, and unpredictable.”

As Japan braces for winter, experts warn the attacks could get even worse before the season ends — leaving communities wondering where the next terrifying encounter might strike.

(Source: Kyodo News)