A man was attacked by a bear at a steel works in Japan today. The incident, which occurred at a facility in the northern prefecture of Akita, has left one worker injured. The bear reportedly entered the plant grounds before charging at the employee.
Security footage shows the moment of the attack, which has since gone viral on social media. The worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital. Wildlife authorities have been called in to capture the animal.
While this is a rare event in industrial settings, it serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of Japan's bear population. The country has seen an increase in bear encounters in recent years, a trend that economists might attribute to the shrinking rural labour force and expanding urbanisation. But for now, markets are calm.
The Nikkei barely moved on the news. After all, a single bear attack does not a bear market make. However, if this becomes a trend, investors might start hedging their bets.
This is Alastair Thorne, staying cautious.
