An unprecedented number of bear attacks have taken place this year in Japan, with the situation having gotten so bad that mail deliveries are potentially going to be disrupted. Even the Ground Self-Defense Force has been enlisted to help deal with the incidents. It appears that the bears have the upper hand, and if military-grade equipment is required, it makes you wonder what ordinary citizens are going to do. One Japanese company thinks it has the answer: Get yourself a bear shelter. Jacaon Company is offering the Kumakon (“bear container”), which is a shelter where people can take refuge while keeping bears out. The redesigned shipping container is strong enough to withstand any bear aggression. While the bite of a bear is said to have strength equal to 7 megapascals (MPa), the shipping container steel can withstand up to 350 MPas. Even if a bear charges at the container, the Kumakon can withstand over 192 tons. While the outside is sturdy, the interior has everything you would need. Though it’s not necessarily cozy, it has three days’ worth of rations, a supply of bottled drinking water, first-aid kits, bear repellant spray, and a toilet with ventilation system. The Kumacon comes in three sizes: 12, 20 and 40-foot. The largest is big enough to hold 12 people. Prices have yet to be announced, but the company says they will begin taking orders sometime in December.
