Up to 200 kg. Black with distinctive white V on chest ('moon bear'). More aggressive toward humans than American black bear.

Highest rate of unprovoked attacks among any bear species. Japan: 5-15 deaths/year, India: 10+ deaths in Kashmir alone. Mauls — targets face and head.

Forests from Iran east through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, Russian Far East, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea.

Mostly solitary, partly arboreal. Hibernates in north. More day-active than other bears. Attacks if cornered or with cubs.

Largest hornet in the world — up to 5 cm with 6 mm stinger. Orange head, yellow-black banded body. Killed enough Americans in 2020 to earn nickname 'murder hornet'.

Sting delivers high-volume venom that destroys flesh. 30-50 deaths/year in Japan alone, mostly from anaphylaxis or multi-sting attacks. Can sting repeatedly.

Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, eastern Russia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam. Forests, mountains, low elevation farmland.

Hunts honeybee colonies — a single hornet can kill 40 bees per minute. Attacks human nests aggressively at 5 m radius.

Up to 65 cm. Brown with darker oval blotches. The most common venomous snake in Japan — causes ~3,000 bites/year with 5-10 deaths.

Hemotoxic venom causes severe pain, swelling, occasionally kidney failure. Antivenom available; deaths now mostly elderly or untreated cases.

Forests, mountains, rice paddies of Japan (all main islands), Korea, China, eastern Russia.

Mostly diurnal in spring/autumn, nocturnal in summer. Often basks on stone walls. Used in traditional medicine — preserved in sake.