‘Beam me up’: Mysterious pillars of light in Japan’s night sky spark alien frenzy. UFO kidnapping humans?

Locals in a small coastal town in Japan were left bewildered by the sight of nine mysterious pillars of light popping up in the night sky above the ocean.

The phenomenon occurred near Tottori prefecture, Japan, on May 11, prompting residents to speculate about its origins. As expected, many were quick to speculate if the eerie lights in the sky were of alien origin. So were they? Were the mysterious lights of aliens beaming people up, or something even more nefarious?

Extraterrestrial streaks of light in the sky

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On social media platform X, many users posted pictures of the beams. In a conversation with Hint-Pot, one person who goes by the username Maashii said: "When I looked up at the night sky in front of my house, I saw several streaks of light in the sky."

Maashii had managed to capture the eerie sight above Daisen, a small fishing town and had shared the same on X.

While the beams, seen in the direction of the Sea of Japan, had led some to wonder if extraterrestrial activity was involved, the actual explanation was much more terrestrial.

Isaribi Kochu

The lights were not alien. In fact, they were reflections from offshore fishing vessel lights, refracted into the clouds. This phenomenon, known locally as "Isaribi Kochu," doesn't happen that often, making it a rare and intriguing sight.

Metro UK reports that Marcy, a resident of Tottori, claims to have seen the spectacle only a handful of times in her more than 10 years living there. Despite its mundane, non-extraterrestrial origins, the hanging beams of light are a fascinating addition to the night sky.

(With inputs from agencies)