Some of the large quantity of white bread found along a roadside in Daisen-Oki National Park in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. [Nippon TV capture]
Some of the large quantity of white bread found along a roadside in Daisen-Oki National Park in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. [Nippon TV capture]

Japanese authorities have launched an investigation after large quantities of white bread were repeatedly found dumped along a roadside in a national park.

According to Japanese media including Nippon TV, dozens of loaves of bread have been discovered in succession along Route 158, near Daisen-Oki National Park in Tottori Prefecture, since Friday.

About 30 loaves were placed at regular intervals along roughly 150 meters of guardrail, and the total found over four days reached 39 kilograms.

When bread was first discovered Friday, the Natural Park Foundation collected 16.7 kg immediately. More appeared the following day — 6.3 kg on Saturday, 5.5 kg on Sunday, and 10.5 kg on Thursday.

On Wednesday, not only bread but also what appeared to be chicken offal and other food waste was found at the site.

Authorities have taken note of the unusual circumstances: had the dumper simply been discarding trash, they would likely have chosen a less conspicuous location. Instead, the bread was laid out at regular intervals along the roadside, suggesting a different intent.

A Natural Park Foundation official said the repeated dumping of food at the same location was "a first," adding that it appeared to have "a completely different purpose" from typical illegal dumping, which usually occurs in ravines or out-of-sight areas.

It has not yet been confirmed who left the food or why.

Asiatic black bear sightings have been reported with increasing frequency around the Daisen area this year.

The Natural Park Foundation warned of potential safety hazards, saying food left in the mountains or fields could attract animals, cause them to habituate to human presence and draw them to populated areas. "Damage to both animals and people could result, so this should be avoided as much as possible," the foundation said.

The foundation also said the dumping constituted illegal waste disposal and called for it to stop in the interest of nature conservation.


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