A 19-year-old woman abducted early Saturday morning in the city of Maebashi by a man armed with what appeared to be a hunting rifle was still missing Sunday evening, police said.
About 800 police officers were mobilized to search for Miwako Tsubaki, a technical school student who was taken from her parents' home during a robbery. The officers examined cars at checkpoints on main roads and visited local hotels with a photo of Tsubaki.
The police said three hunting rifles were stolen in the town of Agatsuma, Gunma Prefecture, on Tuesday and footprints at the scene resemble those left at the Tsubakis' home, the police said.
The police released her photograph Saturday and appealed to the public for information as to her whereabouts.
The man, described as in his 40s or 50s and wearing a mask, took 13,000 yen and threatened Miwako's father, a 55-year-old farmer, and his wife with the weapon after breaking into their home.
The man then took Miwako, telling the couple he would release her when he was 1 km away from the house, according to the police.
No shots were fired and no one was injured in the robbery. The incident occurred in a farming area in a suburb of Maebashi.