Japanese officials and residents have been left baffled after a large, mysterious metal sphere appeared on a local beach. As reported by <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64730255">BBC</a>, the Japanese broadcaster NHK shared a video of two officials on Enshuhama Beach looking at the gigantic metal object that appeared about 4.9ft wide. The suspicious ball was first spotted by a local resident in Hamamatsu, a southern coastal city about 155 miles from Tokyo. The resident called the cops before 9:ooAM and said that "a large round object was washed up on the beach," as cited by <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/22/japanese-officials-investigate-mysterious-sphere-washed-up-on-beach/">The New York Post</a>. After arriving at the bizarre scene, law enforcement decided to seal off the area and conduct X-ray exams on the object, which revealed that it was not harmful. Watch a video of the mysterious sphere below: [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/NHKWORLD_News/status/1628008229832720384]] The officials have explained that the object is a sphere with a diameter of around 4 feet, and is believed to be made of iron as it has a coating of rust. They have sent photographs of the suspicious object to the Japanese self-defense forces and coast guard for further examination. It has been noted that there are no signs of intelligence from nearby countries North Korea or China, per <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/22/mysterious-metal-iron-ball-sphere-beach-japan-officials-investigate">The Guardian</a>. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/22/mysterious-metal-iron-ball-sphere-beach-japan-officials-investigate">publication</a> also reported that the presence of the grips on the sphere's surface could suggest that it is attached to something, as well as indicate that it is a mooring buoy. Meanwhile, some users have shared their own predictions on what the unknown ball could be and where it came from. One user wrote: "It could be from outer space." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/yurikageyama/status/1628162710499393537]] Another said: "it's an old bomb for hit submarines and ships used in WW." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/iMaycon/status/1628073185064235011]] A third commented: "It's a steel mooring buoy. They are specially designed for the mooring of vessels in the most economical way while protecting shorelines, natural habitats & other boats by giving those sailing or stationed an alternative anchoring point for all types of vessels." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jeremiah_fsp/status/1628149798988656640]] While a fourth user hilariously referenced Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball' music video and wrote that she is "currently helping the authorities with their enquiries". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/DavidBennun/status/1628403292907634688]] Nevertheless, while the unidentified object is not being treated as suspicious by the country, it has also appeared after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon earlier this month. According to <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64730255">BBC</a>, Japan expressed concerns to China recently about alleged spy balloons -  that were spotted over its skies at least three times since 2019 - however, China has denied the espionage claims. It has been reported that the two neighboring countries met on Wednesday (February 21) in the first senior bilateral security dialogue in four years. They have both agreed to work toward establishing a communications hotline in the next few months. <h6>Featured image credit: Regis Martin / Alamy</h6>

Japanese officials investigating mysterious sphere that washed up on beach

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