Nipponica

The government suggested on Oct. 30 that children should carry empty plastic bottles to repel bears, claiming the animals hate the sound of them crumpling.

The suggestion came from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Environment Ministry as part of a directive to boards of education nationwide that aims to protect children going to and from school. With bear-related incidents continuing across the country, countermeasures practiced in northern Japan regions such as Hokkaido and Tohoku were also included.

The 21st century samurai is much less cool.