Summary
On February 23, 1975, two schoolboys in Kōfu, Japan, reported an extraordinary encounter with an unidentified flying object and a strange humanoid figure. While playing outdoors, Masato Kōno and Katsuhiro Yamahata noticed unusual orange lights in the evening sky. One object allegedly descended into a nearby vineyard, where the boys observed a metallic, disc-shaped craft. They described a small humanoid figure with an unusually large head and unfamiliar features. According to their account, the figure approached and touched one boy's shoulder, frightening them into fleeing. Subsequent reports mentioned unusual marks in the vineyard, but no independently verified evidence established the object's identity or origin.
Additional Notes
The Kofu UFO Encounter, commonly known in Japan as the Kofu Incident, took place on February 23, 1975, in the Kamichō district of Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture. Two young schoolboys, Masato Kōno and Katsuhiro Yamahata, were reportedly playing on roller skates during the early evening when they noticed two unusual orange lights moving through the sky. One of the objects allegedly descended toward a nearby vineyard. Curious and frightened, the boys approached the area and discovered what they described as a metallic, disc-shaped craft with a dome-like upper section. Strange markings were reportedly visible on its surface. The most extraordinary part of their account involved a small humanoid figure, approximately 1.3 metres tall. The boys described an unusually large head, unfamiliar facial features, and clothing that appeared metallic or reflective. According to their testimony, the figure approached one of the boys and touched his shoulder from behind. The unexpected contact caused him to collapse or fall in fright. The boys subsequently fled the area. Their families became involved after the children returned home. Later accounts also mention unusual lights observed by adults in the surrounding area, although these observations did not independently confirm the reported humanoid encounter. Investigators and journalists reportedly examined the vineyard, where damaged supports and unusual ground marks were described. The origin of these marks was not conclusively established, and their connection to the alleged object remains unverified. The incident received attention in Japanese UFO publications within months of the reported encounter. A June 1975 issue of the magazine *UFO and Space* included an account of the boys' experience. Decades later, in February 2025, Katsuhiro Yamahata participated in a television interview marking the incident's fiftieth anniversary. He revisited the area and described his memories of the encounter, including the fear he experienced when the figure allegedly touched him. The Kofu Incident remains one of Japan's best-known close-encounter reports. Its unusual details, identifiable witnesses, early documentation, and later testimony have sustained public interest. However, the nature of the reported object and figure has never been independently established.
The Location Today
The alleged encounter took place in a vineyard in the Kamichō district of Kōfu, the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture, near the area now associated with Kose Sports Park. The exact landing spot has not been independently established. The reported encounter area lies near the present-day Kose Sports Park. In 2025, local media revisited the surroundings with one of the original witnesses. The approximate coordinates identify the general area, not a verified landing site.
- Environment
- Field / Farmland
- Time of Day
- Evening, approximately 6:00–7:00 PM
- Evidence Level
- Witness Report
- Visiting the Location
- Unknown
- Ownership of the Location
- Unknown