The Kumamoto Prefectural Police have released a photo of a 16-year-old girl who went missing Wednesday evening and are asking the public for help in the case.
According to investigations, Asami Kaibara of Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, parted with her friends at Mifune Prefectural High School after archery practice at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday and was on her way home by bicycle.
After she failed to return by 8 p.m., her family began searching for her and found her bicycle in a rice paddy in the town of Mifune.
The high school student has a mobile phone but was not able to be contacted because the power was apparently turned off. No witnesses have been found, police said.
Since Thursday morning, some 100 police officers have joined the search for the missing girl, they said.