Stab-resistant clothing effective against bears? Inquiries increase, manufacturers begin development

Kobe City startup has begun developing protective clothing for bear countermeasures. Normally they develop and sell stab-resistant clothing, but the background is that incidents of injury and killing by bears have occurred across the country, and inquiries about bear countermeasures have followed in quick succession. They aim to commercialize during fiscal 2026, but they lack sufficient bear data necessary for development and are calling on research institutions and hunters for cooperation.

"Can this stab-resistant clothing also be used against bears?"

A bear appeared along the Nakatsugawa River behind Morioka City Hall = Oct. 23, 2025, 8:26 a.m., Morioka City, photo by Tatsuro Sakata

About 10 such inquiries were received in the past month by Naoki Sasada, president (47) of SYCO, which was founded in 2021.

When a stabbing incident using a knife occurs, inquiries and orders for stab-resistant clothing tend to increase. However, it is the first time inquiries specifically with bear countermeasures in mind have come in one after another.

The company's stab-resistant clothing, made with aramid fibers and carbon fiber reinforced plastic, meets a standard that prevents penetration even if an adult man stabs with a kitchen knife (24 joules of force). But a bear's strength is greater than that of an adult man.

Inside the stab-resistant clothing are materials that resist being pierced by blades = Oct. 29, 2025, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, photo by Ryuichiro Fukuoka

Exactly how much existing products can defend against bears, "no one knows precisely," they say. It is necessary to collect data and consider standards.