AKITA—A bizarre standoff between police and a marauding bear holed up in a supermarket here finally ended with the animal’s capture on Dec. 2, two days after it broke in and mauled an employee.

Claw marks remain on his face and back to this day. In the last fiscal year alone, there were 70 victims of bear attacks reported in Akita Prefecture, including Minatoya. It was said that a lack ...