In Japan, police and firefighters rushed to the scene after a report that a man had sprinkled white powder on the street.
According to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 17th, around 7:40 p.m. on the 9th, Amagasaki Police in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, received a report that "a suspicious man is sprinkling white powder on the street" in front of a subway station.
After the report was received, about 10 police officers and firefighters who had been asked to assist were deployed to the scene. It was confirmed that white powder had been scattered at intervals of several meters in places along the sidewalk, and arrows had been drawn in chalk next to the powder.
Based on witness statements, police searched for the suspect and around 11 p.m. found a 55-year-old man in a hoodie, about 170 centimeters tall, at a nearby restaurant. The man showed police a bag of flour during questioning.
The man told police, "I was playing a running game on the street, and I used flour to mark the direction the chaser was fleeing." The game is gaining popularity across Japan. Through social media (SNS), the time and place are announced, and it is a game that can be enjoyed with people meeting for the first time.
The man was reportedly having an after-party with other participants after the game. An analysis of the white powder collected from the street by police confirmed that it was not a hazardous substance. The man promised to clean the sidewalk, and police issued a stern warning.