Since a bear cub attacked a Spanish tourist in the mountain village of Shirakawa last month, protecting residents and tourist groups who flock there to see its thatched-roof houses, listed by UNESCO, has become a top priority. Shiroki Mitsunari (40), a local official overseeing efforts to deter bears in the village, said he doesn't recall seeing bears when he was a child in the picturesque village famous for its thatched-roof houses. He added about the village, located in a remote valley in central Japan, roughly midway between Tokyo and Osaka: 'There are many bears on the road,' attributing this to the increasing bear population and a lack of natural food resources for them. Across Japan, since April this year, 220 people have been injured in bear attacks, 13 of them died, including seven last month, which is a peak time when bears intensively search for food before entering hibernation.