1975 · Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
The Nakatsugawa sightings
Context, not the sighting: central Nakatsugawa, Gifu, from the air in 1976, a year after the sightings raised in the Diet. Government aerial survey photo (two frames of ccb-76-17 joined). · Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省), National Land Information web mapping system
WhenEarly 1975 (raised in the Diet on 29 March 1975)
WhereNakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Backing2 independent
Evidenceofficial records
In early 1975 people around Nakatsugawa in Gifu Prefecture reported an unidentified flying object, and the story spread through the local press. The Nagoya City Science Museum sent a film crew. On 29 March 1975 Councillor Kato Susumu (Japanese Communist Party) raised it in the Diet: the Air Self-Defense Force wing at Gifu had told him none of its aircraft had flown there, and he asked the Defense Agency to find out what it was.
Evidence, in date order (2)
- Mar 1975JASDF Gifu air wingofficialtold the member none of its aircraft had made such a flight https://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/txt/107515270X00119750329/339
- 29 Mar 1975Councillor Kato Susumuofficialraised it with the Defense Agency in the House of Councillors budget subcommittee https://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/txt/107515270X00119750329/339
How plausible · Moderate
Local sightings serious enough for a museum film crew and a question in the Diet; the air wing said its aircraft didn't fly.
- ●●No gain sought Nobody profited.
- ●●Checkable details check out The Diet record is public.
- ●●Physical traces or official reaction A Diet question, an air wing statement, a museum film crew.
- ●○Access Local residents.
- ●○Character record Raised by a member of parliament.
- ●○Independent convergence Widespread local reports.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
A UFO appeared over Nakatsugawa and is the talk of the area; the Nagoya City Science Museum sent a film crew; the Gifu (Kakamigahara) air wing confirmed none of its aircraft flew.secondhandSourced, unconfirmedperson/susumu-kato, Diet, 29 March 1975
Where
Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
36.0°N 138.0°E · region only