原田英語の時事英語ジュニア｜英語ニュース ワークシート（高校生レベル）
Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________
クマの出没が過去最多に 「緊急銃猟」は1年で81件、どんな制度？
Japan's Emergency Bear Shooting System Turns One
1Japanese municipalities used a new emergency shooting system for bears 81 times in its first year, the Environment Ministry said in September 2026. The cases took place in 14 of Japan's 47 prefectures, mainly in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions.
2The system began on September 1, 2025, under a revised wildlife protection law. Before that, firing a hunting gun in a residential area was banned in principle. Hunters could usually shoot only in special cases, such as when police officers ordered it. Now, city and town governments can authorize hunters to shoot a dangerous bear.
3Guidelines from the ministry set four conditions for such shooting. A bear must have entered, or be likely to enter, an area where people live their daily lives. The situation must be urgent, and shooting must be the only option. Using a gun must also be unlikely to hurt any person.
4The change came as bears appeared near towns far more often. From April to November 2025, people reported 47,038 sightings of Asian black bears, the most since comparable data began in fiscal 2009. That figure was nearly double the previous full-year record of 24,348, set in fiscal 2023. Akita Prefecture alone had 13,172 sightings.
5Nearly 70 percent of the 81 cases happened between October and December, when bears search for food before hibernation. Yamagata Prefecture had the most cases, with 19, followed by Niigata with 14. Officials said some towns lack experience, and few hunters have the skill to shoot safely at night. The ministry plans to help train more staff, including hunters employed by local governments.
Words 単語
| municipality外 | 名 | 市町村、自治体a city, town or village with its own local government |
| revisedB1 | 形 | 改正された、改訂されたchanged to make it better or more correct |
| residentialB1 | 形 | 住宅の、住宅地のhaving homes where people live |
| in principleB1 | 熟 | 原則としてas a basic rule, though there are some exceptions |
| authorizeB2 | 動 | 許可する、権限を与えるto give official permission |
| conditionA2 | 名 | 条件something that must be true before something else can happen |
| urgentB1 | 形 | 緊急の、急を要するneeding action right away |
| comparable外 | 形 | 比較できるable to be fairly compared with something else |
| hibernation外 | 名 | 冬眠a long winter sleep of some animals |
| lackA2 | 動 | ～が欠けている、足りないto not have enough of something |
単語のレベル：CEFR-J（『CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.6』 東京外国語大学投野由紀夫研究室. （URL: https://www.cefr-j.org/download.html より 2026年8月ダウンロード））
1. Reading Quiz 本文の内容に合うものを選ぼう
In how many prefectures did the 81 cases take place?
A. 14B. 47C. 19D. 81
What was the rule before September 2025?
A. Anyone could shoot in towns.B. Shooting in residential areas was banned in principle.C. Only mayors could shoot.D. There were no rules at all.
Which is one of the four conditions for emergency shooting?
A. The bear must be very large.B. It must be daytime.C. A police officer must fire first.D. Shooting must be the only option.
What was the previous full-year record for bear sightings?
A. 13,172B. 47,038C. 24,348D. 81
What problem did officials mention?
A. Few hunters can shoot safely at night.B. There are too many hunters.C. Bears stopped coming to towns.D. Guns are too cheap.
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) The system began on September 1, 2025.
( ) A gun may be used even if it is likely to hurt people.
( ) Akita Prefecture had more than 13,000 sightings.
( ) Most cases happened in summer.
3. Fill in the Blanks 下の語から選んで空らんをうめよう（形を変えずに）
municipalitiesrevisedresidentialconditionsauthorizeurgent
The system began on September 1, 2025, under a _____ wildlife protection law.
The situation must be _____, and shooting must be the only option.
Japanese _____ used a new emergency shooting system for bears 81 times in its first year, the Environment Ministry said in September 2026.
Now, city and town governments can _____ hunters to shoot a dangerous bear.
Before that, firing a hunting gun in a _____ area was banned in principle.
Guidelines from the ministry set four _____ for such shooting.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( change / often / The / more / near / as / far / came / towns / bears / appeared ) .
( four / such / from / set / ministry / conditions / shooting / Guidelines / for / the ) .
( sightings / Akita / had / 13,172 / Prefecture / alone ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
Do you think local governments should decide when to shoot bears? Explain your view.（クマを撃つかどうかは市町村が決めるべきだと思いますか？考えを説明しよう。）
What could communities do to keep bears away from homes and schools?（クマを家や学校に近づけないために、地域には何ができるでしょう？）
Answers 解答
1. (1) A (2) B (3) D (4) C (5) A
2. (1) T (2) F (3) T (4) F
3. (1) revised (2) urgent (3) municipalities (4) authorize (5) residential (6) conditions
4.
- The change came as bears appeared near towns far more often.
- Guidelines from the ministry set four conditions for such shooting.
- Akita Prefecture alone had 13,172 sightings.
全文訳
1環境省は2026年9月、市町村がクマを対象とする新しい緊急銃猟の制度を最初の1年で81回使ったと発表しました。これらは全国47都道府県のうち14の県で起き、主に東北と北陸の地方に集中していました。
2この制度は、改正された鳥獣保護管理法のもとで2025年9月1日に始まりました。それまでは、住宅地で猟銃を撃つことは原則として禁止されていました。ハンターが撃てるのは、警察官が命じた場合など特別なときに限られていました。現在は、市町村がハンターに危険なクマを撃つことを許可できます。
3環境省の指針は、こうした銃猟に4つの条件を定めています。クマが人の日常生活の場に入りこんでいるか、入りこむおそれが高いこと。事態が緊急で、銃で撃つ以外に方法がないこと。さらに、銃を使っても人に危害がおよぶおそれが低いこと、です。
4この見直しは、クマが町の近くに現れることが大幅に増えたなかで行われました。2025年4月から11月までに報告されたツキノワグマの目撃は4万7038件で、比較できるデータがある2009年度以降で最多でした。この数は、2023年度に記録された1年間の前の最多記録2万4348件のほぼ2倍です。秋田県だけで1万3172件の目撃がありました。
581件のうち7割近くは、クマが冬眠前に食べ物を探す10月から12月に起きました。件数が最も多かったのは山形県の19件で、新潟県の14件が続きました。担当者によると、経験の足りない市町村があり、夜に安全に撃つ技術をもつハンターも少ないということです。環境省は、自治体に雇われるハンターを含め、担い手をさらに育てる支援を行う予定です。
文法ポイント：must have + 過去分詞
must have + 過去分詞は「～していなければならない（条件）」や「～したにちがいない（推量）」を表す。本文の A bear must have entered ... an area where people live は条件の意味で「クマが人の生活の場に入っていなければならない」。
出典：Jiji Press（Adnkronos 転載）、Jiji Press（Adnkronos 転載）、The Yomiuri Shimbun / Asia News Network ほか（記事は原田英語の時事英語ジュニアのオリジナル）｜https://www.haradaeigo.com/jijieigo-junior/news/2026-09-06-bear-emergency-shooting-first-year/