Police in Osaka said Thursday that a 12-year-old girl has been missing from her home in Tsurumi Ward since Jan 5.

Japanese media reported Thursday that the girl, Mirai Atarashi, went missing around 6:15 p.m. on Jan 5. On the morning of her disappearance, she met up with five friends through the instant message application LINE and they went to an indoor leisure center in Sakai.

The girl's mother said she received a text message from her daughter at around 2:30 p.m., saying she was about to return home. Atarashi and one of her friends went as far as Yada train station where they parted ways at around 6:15 p.m., and that was the last place the girl was seen, Fuji TV reported. Her cell phone was not accessible after that, police said.

The parents contacted police on Jan 7 to report her missing.

Prefectural police have released photos and information to the public, seeking help. Atarashi is a first-year municipal middle-school student, approximately 157 cm tall, with short black hair. She was last seen wearing a green coat with black sweatpants, and a white face mask.

Anyone with any information is urged to call 06-6913-1234.

© Japan Today