Japanese vending machine sells bear meat

STORY: Ever wondered what bear meat tastes like?

Location: Semboku, Japan

This vending machine sells meat from Asian black bears

caught in traps or in the mountains by hunters

(Daishi Sato, Owner of the vending machine) "Bear meat has some flavor that's indescribable, and its texture is a bit hard, like the tough part of beef. It is hard to describe the flavor. How should I put it? There is a kind of wild taste from the mountains."

Asian black bears are listed as vulnerable, but not critically so

and it is legal to eat bear in Japan

Bear attacks are an increasing problem in parts of rural Japan

due to a shortage of food in the forests

that brings the animals into inhabited areas to forage

One pack of 250 grams costs 2,200 yen ($16.75)

(Hiromi Katayama, Visitor) "I'm very surprised to see bear meat. We are from western Japan, and we don't often see bear meat there, so I don't even know how to cook it. But I think it's unique to the locals and it's interesting to see it."