[3] However, based on mitochondrial DNA analysis, it has been suggested these differences only became pronounced genetically around 30,000 years ago.

[4] Typical prey species include Japanese serow,[5] wild boar, and sika deer.

[6] The beech mast is produced every few years by the trees, which are widespread throughout Japan as far north as the Oshima Peninsula.

They tend to live in areas where there is an abundance of grasses and trees with berries to support their diet, particularly broad-leaved, deciduous forests.

Because of this and the carrying capacity reduction due to habitat destruction has resulted in the recognition that the Japanese black bear is at a high risk of extinction.

In addition to the damage to the bear population caused by habitat destruction, these interactions increase the risk of humans exposure to zoonotic diseases, such as filarial infections, babesiosis, and trichinosis.

[7][10] The appearance of black bears around both suburban and rural residential areas is associated with the failure of hard mast seed production from Japanese beech or mizunara oak trees; in the face of food shortages, bears extend their foraging ranges.