
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
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

Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
7-Eleven Japan to start selling Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches this summer
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino, tea and soda drinks for summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
7-Eleven Japan to start selling Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches this summer
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino, tea and soda drinks for summer
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro music box to its anime merchandise store in Japan
Gama Land, the weird Japanese amusement park celebrating toads, is now like a ghost town
All-you-can-eat cheese restaurant in Tokyo is a hidden gem not many people know about
Starbucks Japan releases new limited-edition summer drinks…and a pastry for dunking
Lawson Japan releases a crazy new product to remind us it’s not just famous for convenience store food
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Universal Studios Japan is giving Frieren anime fans the chance to make unforgettable memories.
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam is getting a new look before its end-of-summer removal
Japanese bento shop touches hearts by selling super cheap boxed lunches for around a dollar
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
Lawson upsizes convenience store food for a limited time with two must-try Japanese meals
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro music box to its anime merchandise store in Japan
Gama Land, the weird Japanese amusement park celebrating toads, is now like a ghost town
All-you-can-eat cheese restaurant in Tokyo is a hidden gem not many people know about
Starbucks Japan releases new limited-edition summer drinks…and a pastry for dunking
Lawson Japan releases a crazy new product to remind us it’s not just famous for convenience store food
Japanese bento shop touches hearts by selling super cheap boxed lunches for around a dollar
Lawson upsizes convenience store food for a limited time with two must-try Japanese meals
Japan’s Pokémon Slowpoke Train goes on hiatus, but a mini version could be yours to own
Fukuoka schools struggling to get kids to switch from milk to tea in lunches
7-Eleven Japan debuts new black-and-white rice ball packaging…but is it because of a naphtha shortage?
That time when we fowled out while fighting our feathered friends
Tokyo has a cafe that prohibits talking inside, and here’s why it’s awesome
Studio Ghibli turns anime characters into “Friendly Bags” for merchandise range in Japan
Family Mart’s new Gyoza Dog proves Japanese convenience store food hits different