Japan's new Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara called the bear attacks "a big problem, a serious problem". TOKYO: Japan's new environment minister vowed tougher measures on Wednesday (Oct 22) after bear attacks in the country killed a record nine people this year. Bears have been increasingly encroaching into towns where the human population is ageing and dwindling. New Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara called the attacks "a big problem, a serious problem". "We are committed to further