TOKYO - One woman has died and another was severely injured when they were knocked down by a driver distracted by Pokemon Go, Japan's National Police Agency said on Wednesday (Aug 24).

This is the first death related to the wildly popular augmented reality mobile game in Japan, the agency added.

The accident had occurred in Katanokamicho town in Tokushima prefecture on Tuesday, at about 7.25pm.

The two women had been walking across a zebra crossing when they were struck down.

Hairdresser Yukiko Nakanishi, 72, died in the accident. Her 60-year-old acquaintance, an unnamed part-time worker, suffered a broken hip among other injuries.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested for causing death and injury due to distracted driving, the police agency said. He had allegedly told police officers: "I did not have clear sight of the road because I was playing Pokemon Go."

In the game, players can hunt, capture, battle and train virtual creatures called Pokemon, which appear on the screen as if they are in the same real world location as the players.