WAKAYAMA (TR) – It has been learned that an acquaintance of a male German university student who went missing in here earlier this month was in contact with a friend in Germany around the time of his disappearance. The friend told TV Asahi (Oct. 24) that they did not “sense anything unusual.”
According to the police, Claudio Worm, 21 entered Japan on a tourist visa on September 21. After touring Tokyo, he entered Wakayama Prefecture on September 30. He dropped out of contact about two weeks later.
It was previously thought that his last known contact was when he exchanged messages with his mother on social media at around 5 a.m. on October 10. However, it has emerged that he spoke to a female friend who lives in Germany two days later.
The friend told the network that she spoke to him at around 1 a.m. on October 12. “He said he had been drinking at a bar,” the woman said, “but he didn’t seem very drunk and he seemed to be enjoying his stay in Wakayama. So, I did not sense anything unusual.”
According to police, a man believed to be Worm was seen in security camera footage entering Wakayama on September 30. He was later seen on security camera footage near Nankai Electric Railway’s Wakayamashi Station at around 8:30 p.m. on October 11.
His passport, clothes, toothbrush and other items were found in a nearby public toilet. His mobile phone was discovered on a bridge over the Kino River. His wallet and backpack have not been found.
The female friend also told the network that Worm has been a fan of Japanese manga and anime since he was in middle school.
“He is a kind, friendly person who looks after his friends and is not the type of person who would get up to something bad,” the friend said. “I don’t think this is a normal disappearance, but I want to believe that he wasn’t involved in any crime or accident and left of her own volition.”
Standing approximately 172 centimeters tall, Worm is of medium build and has blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a black backpack, whitish trousers, a black long-sleeved shirt and white sneakers.
Persons with information on Worm’s whereabouts are asked to call the Wakayama Prefectural Police, Personal Safety Division at 073-423-0110 or the Nishi Police Station at 073-424-0110.
