
These not-so-little piggies went “wee, wee, wee” all the way on a bloody path of destruction.
On a tranquil Saturday morning at about 11:25 a.m. two wild boars described as a parent and child appeared in the Honmachi area of Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto City. It’s not clear what initially set off the animals, but as we shall soon see: Once you get a wild boar agitated, there isn’t much you can do to stop it.
At this time, a call came into the Kyoto Prefectural Police that a “high school girl was rammed by a wild boar.” According to witnesses, the larger boar was about one meter (three feet) long.
The attack prompted a small panic in the streets and sent the boars running for cover at a nearby elderly care facility, where they rammed into the front door, puncturing it.
In an effort to protect their residents, two staff members, a 43-year-old man and 35-year-old woman, attempted to contain the animals. However, the beasts proved too strong and ran back towards the street after leaving the workers with bites and scrapes to their legs.
▼ A news report showing the damage and blood stains of the elderly facility attack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YNaWmRhNp4
Next, the boars encountered an 81-year-old resident and rushed her. As a result, she fell down and received several injuries including a fractured right wrist. A nearby 71-year-old retired police officer gallantly tried to intervene and subdue one of the boars by putting it in a headlock. It was a noble but futile effort though, as the animal wrestled free, leaving the man with bites and scratches to his arms and legs.
By this time, a party of four men was assembled to do battle with the boars once and for all. According to one warrior, an unnamed carpenter in his 50s: “I fought the wild boar for about 10 minutes with a two-by-four, but it didn’t give an inch. It was scary.”
Despite much of the incident taking place near popular sightseeing spot Tokufu Temple, no one managed to record the incident on video. Luckily, we managed to track down an accurate reenactment of the final battle.
In the real event, the boars fled the scene and returned to the mountains, thus depriving the men of a possible Stout Bone or Beast Tears. In their wake the five victims mentioned above were sent to hospital for a range of injuries.
According to the locals, boars are known to pop up in town from time to time during the early spring to snack on the bamboo that grows around there.
So, if you happen to be visiting Kyoto during this season and spot a boar, make sure not to do anything to set them off. By “anything” I mean make eye contact, move suddenly, make loud sounds, um, breathe… Pretty much anything will piss them off, and since Epitaph Blades are banned in Japan, your chances for victory are slim.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun, Otakomu
Top image: Wikipedia/Show_ryu

Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Four Shinto shrines to pray for love at in Japan to start the New Year
Top Secret Cookie Recipe Finally Comes to Light
Start saving room now – Japanese grocery store’s biggest sushi roll yet is coming for Setsubun
We use the Seishun 18 Ticket to travel from Japan to Korea by ferry
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Four Shinto shrines to pray for love at in Japan to start the New Year
Top Secret Cookie Recipe Finally Comes to Light
Start saving room now – Japanese grocery store’s biggest sushi roll yet is coming for Setsubun
We use the Seishun 18 Ticket to travel from Japan to Korea by ferry
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Cup Noodle mystery meat instant rice returns to Japanese stores after a seven-year absence
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Cup Noodle mystery meat instant rice returns to Japanese stores after a seven-year absence
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
7-Eleven opens “next generation” SIP convenience store in Japan
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week
More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
Bacon and Egg Sauce Katsudon: A new way to eat breakfast in Japan
People in Tokyo found over 4 billion yen in lost cash last year and turned it in to the police
Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Leave a Reply