The idea of defending his homeland inspired Teruo Shimomoto to join the Self-Defense Forces as a young man. Now retired, the former officer has swapped military fatigues for a hunting vest in order to take on a different type of mission: protecting his community from the threat of invasive wildlife.
“I’ve been the head of a neighborhood organization in the district I live in, and whenever we have gatherings the conversation turns toward problems caused by wild animals,” says the sprightly septuagenarian from Fukuchiyama, a midsize city north of Kyoto known for its plentiful nature and landmark castle.
“So I acquired a hunting license and joined the local hunting association to do something about it.”
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.