A foreign national accidentally discharged anti-bear spray inside a central Nagoya post office on July 1, resulting in five hospitalizations and eight additional cases of illness with no serious injuries reported. The event coincides with official data showing at least five bear-related fatalities in Japan since April 1 and a record 13 deaths in the prior fiscal year. Authorities continue investigating a possible sixth fatality while scientists cite increased bear populations and rural depopulation as contributing factors.