Asian black bear
Along with sun bears, Asiatic black bears are the most typically used species in areas where bears are either used in performances or as pets. Asian black bears have an outstanding learning ability in captivity, and are among the most common species used in circus acts. According to Gary Brown:
Asian black bear
In Japanese culture, the black bear is traditionally associated with the mountain spirit ("yama no kami") and is characterized variously as "mountain man" ("yamaotoko"), "mountain uncle" ("yama no ossan"), "mountain father" ("yama no oyaji"), a loving mother and a child. Being a largely solitary creature, the bear is also viewed as "lonely person" ("sabishigariya"). Black bears feature very little in lowland Japanese folklore, but are prominent in upland Japan, a fact thought to reflect the bear's greater economic value in upland areas. According to the local folklore in Kituarahara-gun in Niigata, the black bear received its white mark after being given a silk-wrapped amulet by "yama no kami", which left the mark after being removed.
In Hindu mythology, the black bear Jambavantha (also known as Jambavan or Jamvanta) is believed to have lived from Treta Yuga to Dvapara Yuga. In the epic "Ramayana", Jambavantha assists Rama in finding his wife Sita and battle her abductor, Ravana.