SEMBOKU, Akita Prefecture—Bukemaru ... and the way he greeted everyone quickly made him popular. His adorable face spread across social media, and he soon became the shop’s beloved mascot.

In the early morning of May 24, a 68-year-old woman was attacked by a 1-meter-long bear in a mountainous forest area in Akita Prefecture, northern Japan. She sustained injuries to her face and arms.