Bear attacks in noodle shop, chef fights back and then… continues working

(Dan Tri) - A chef at a ramen restaurant in Japan was attacked by a bear while preparing to open the shop in the morning. His face was covered in blood but he continued to cook as if nothing had happened.

According to Japan's environment ministry, bear attacks have surged nationwide this year. At least 13 people have died - the highest number since 2006 - and more than 100 have been injured.

The incident happened early one morning not long ago in Aomori Prefecture (Northeast Japan). A 57-year-old employee of a ramen restaurant was preparing ingredients at 5am when he suddenly came face to face with a bear about 1m tall in the broth cooking area behind the restaurant.

The number of bear attacks in Japan this year has increased sharply (Photo: South China Morning Post).

According to Mr. Sasaki - the restaurant manager, the bear rushed to attack, but the man was able to react in time, push the bear away and chase it away. The chef only suffered scratches on his eyelids and nose, but his face was still covered in blood.

What shocked Mr. Sasaki was that the man calmly returned to work immediately afterward. He simply said, “It’s okay, the restaurant must be open.” The chef even said that he initially thought he was attacked by a large dog, only to later learn that the culprit was a bear.

At around 5:30, Mr. Sasaki persuaded the chef to go to the hospital to treat the wound to avoid infection. Aside from a swollen face, the chef’s health was stable. However, he was also temporarily off work for a few days.

The chef used to be a medical specialist at a dialysis hospital. He retired a year ago and took up his favorite job at a noodle shop. According to the manager, the chef is only about 1.6m tall, but has a very strong physique.

Bear warning signs are placed on a trail in Akita (Northeast Japan) to remind people (Photo: South China Morning Post).

Following the incident, the restaurant temporarily closed and transferred staff to another branch. The owner said he was planning to erect a bear fence around the area. He also said it was fortunate that the attack occurred on a Sunday, the day the kindergarten next door was closed.

On social media, many expressed surprise and concern, saying that fighting off a bear alone was admirable, but also very dangerous. Many said that although the chef was a medical professional, familiar with wounds and blood, he should have prioritized going to the hospital immediately after the attack.

“He was lucky the bear didn’t seem to have any intention of going all the way. This should not be imitated,” one person commented.

“What a workaholic,” one account humorously commented.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/gau-tan-cong-ngay-trong-quan-mi-dau-bep-chong-tra-roi-lam-tiep-20251122013659448.htm