Mystery Man

Hidekazu Kakoi was looking for a fishing spot about six miles off shore when he noticed something bobbing on the horizon. He pulled his boat closer and discovered a man, grasping a duffel bag.

That was just the start of the mystery.

Now recovering on the tiny island of Tanegashima, off Japan’s southern coast, the mystery man has refused to speak to authorities since his rescue Sept. 2. The duffel bag floated away, and local officials say all they have to go on is the fact that he’s Asian, wore a tank-top with a Korean label, and fell, jumped or was pushed into the water with his shoes on.

(via ABC7/AP: “Mystery man has Japanese island abuzz” [September 8, 2004])