Bear attacks on Hokkaido have become such a problem, due to a surging population that the town of Naiehas been trying to hire hunters for 10,300 yen ($64; £50) a day to patrol the streets, lay traps and kill the animals if necessary..

 

Japan has two species of bears, the Asian Black Bear and the Ussuri Brown Bear, the latter of which is in the grizzly bear family.

FWIW, if you look this up, you'll find photographs of the Japanese bear hunters using bolt action rifles. There's a weird belief that there are no privately held firearms in Japan which is simply untrue.  You can buy firearms in Japan.  There's a process to it, but you can do it. 

The process is:

1. Join a hunting or shooting club. 
2. Take a firearm class and pass a written exam.
3. Get a doctor’s note saying you are mentally fit and do not have a history of drug abuse. 
4. Apply for a permit to take firing training. 
5. Describe in a police interview why you need a gun. 
6. Pass a review of your criminal history, gun possession record, employment, involvement with organized crime groups, personal debt and relationships with friends, family and neighbors.
7. Apply for a gunpowder permit.
8. Take a one-day training class and pass a firing test.
9. Obtain a certificate from a gun dealer describing the gun you want.
10.  Buy a gun safe and an ammunition locker that meet safety regulations.
11. Allow police to inspect your gun
12. Pass an additional background review.

Yes, that's a lot compared to the US, but some of it should seem familiar.  While is different, in Wyoming, where obtaining a firearms is easy, if you want to go hunting, you must take a hunter's safety course.  Once you do that, you can get hunting licenses, but to purchase a firearm you must still have the background check done in one fashion or another.

Anyhow, yes you can buy a firearm in Japan.  In spite of this, you are going to continue to see the "there are no guns" in Japan comments.