This week, a strange object hovering above northern Japan has caught the attention of the world, prompting the government to deny any links to the “UFO” officially.
First seen on Wednesday morning above the city of Sendai, images of a round white item went viral on social media, sparking a debate on precisely what was in the skies above Japan.
The UFO frenzy led to a top government official being questioned during his daily briefing about any potential government involvement.
Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said that the Japanese government was aware of the object, but it is nothing to with them. He continued by dismissing suggestions that the “UFO” belongs to a foreign government.
Other authorities across Japan have weighed in on the debate. An official at the Sendai Bureau of the Japan Meteorological Agency suggested it is nothing more than a weather balloon, saying:
“The object looks like a balloon for monitoring weather, but it’s not ours.”
Close-up images of the “UFO” show that it resembles a weather balloon with crossed sticks and propellers attached to the round white body.
However, the identity of the object remains unconfirmed, even after local police flew a helicopter to confirm its presence and consultations were held between various local authorities and organizations.
Some speculated that the “UFO” belonged to Kyushu University’s aeronautics department. However, Shinichiro Higashino, an associate professor of the department, denied it belonged to them, continuing:
“It’s possible it could conduct scientific observations or monitor something.”
Since Wednesday, the object has floated out to the Pacific Ocean, and local authorities have lost track of it.
For now, the mystery remains unresolved.
Source: AFP
