In a surprising incident, an Akita Shinkansen, also known as a bullet train, collided with a bear. No injuries among the passengers were reported as a result of the unexpected encounter. The incident is being investigated by relevant authorities and the train service has returned to normal operation.

Wildlife-related incidents are not uncommon in rural areas of Japan, but encounters on active train lines are rare. Many people in Japan live in close proximity to nature and coexisting with wildlife is a part of daily life. The uneventful end to this incident highlights the robust safety measures railways have in place which indicates their constant concern for passengers' safety.

Unlike in the US or EU, where collisions with wildlife are often with deer or similar-sized creatures, Japan has a significant bear population. Despite this, safety protocols and technological advances in Japanese trains have generally ensured a high level of safety for passengers, a trend seen less frequently in other parts of the world.