Locals in Japan fishing village left convinced aliens were visiting
After nine ‘mysterious’ beams of light appeared above the ocean, locals in a small coastal town in Japan were left convinced aliens may be visiting Earth.
Locals in a small coastal town in Japan were left convinced aliens may be visiting Earth after nine bright pillars of light appeared in the night sky above the ocean.
Photos of the spooky-looking event were shared online after dozens noticed the shafts near Tottori prefecture, Japan, on 11 May – with theories spreading online it could be the result of a UFO visit.
X user Maashii posted a photo of the beams cutting through a cloudy night sky above Daisen and told the news site Hint-Pot: “When I looked up at the night sky in front of my house, I saw several streaks of light in the sky.”
The beams appeared towards the Sea of Japan.
But despite alien-related theories springing up after they appeared, the phenomenon has a more ordinary explanation.
The beams, which appeared near a busy fishing area, were actually reflections of off-shore fishing vessel lights.
They were the result of light being refracted into the clouds – though the occurrence is only usually seen once every few years.
The phenomenon is called ‘Isaribi Kochu’ – ‘fish-attracting light pillars’.
One resident of Tottori called Marcy, who moved to the town nearly 10 years, said she had witnessed it a few times.
Japan Today reported the lights sometimes happen once a year.
In order to coax nocturnal fish to their boats, fishermen use lights in order to attract them and that is where the reflections were from, experts added.
When the overnight temperatures drop low enough, ice crystals can form in the air above ships, and in these conditions they become bright enough to reflect into the sky and can be seen from shore.
