A search for a 68-year-old Nagoya man who disappeared while making his first solo yacht trip around Japan entered its second day Tuesday, the Japan Coast Guard said.
Mamoru Yamamoto set off on his 9.12-meter yacht Taiyo from Hazu, Aichi Prefecture, on July 11.
He was last heard from when he radioed a yacht-management company at around 10 a.m. Saturday and reported he was off Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, bound for Cape Muroto, Kochi Prefecture.
The coast guard said it began its search in that area Monday after the company reported it had lost contact with the vessel. The firm had tried to give Yamamoto information on the season's seventh typhoon.
Coast guard officials said the firm advised Yamamoto to put off the trip until he had more experience. Yamamoto bought the yacht in January and began sailing around spring.
On Monday, the coast guard dispatched three aircraft and three patrol vessels to search the area but found no sign of Yamamoto.
According to the coast guard officials, he was traveling westbound. He was scheduled to return home in December.