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Strange light pillars appear in the night sky of Japanese town, blowing people’s minds

A Japanese man captured the sight and posted on X, attracting the attention of millions of people.

By

Neha B.

By  Neha B.
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Cover Image Source: X – Photo credit: @maashii_taiyo (L); @totoro8201 (R)

A photo is going viral on X, captivating and baffling millions. The surreal night sky image from Japan, uploaded by Masashi Sasaki (nicknamed Mashi) on May 11, 2024, has garnered over 12 million views.

Representative Image Source: Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Representative Image Source: Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Mashi captured a rare phenomenon in the night sky of a coastal town, sharing it with the caption, “A streak of light was spotted in the sky above Mikuriya Port in Daisen Town, Tottori at around 10 pm today.” The image shows nine eerie pillars of glowing white light hanging in the sky like magical wands.

The picture left over 70,000 people in awe. Some compared it to scenes from the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” while others likened it to sci-fi movies. Viewers described the pillars as “divine” and “sacred.” @kohinata_87 wondered if it was an aurora, translating roughly to, “Aurora? The white light was amazing and visible even in Tottori. Beautiful and mysterious.” @shirlen_ray called it a glimpse of “paradise.”

@megroom22 exclaimed it looked like “an entrance to a mysterious world!” Some thought the lights were bad omens. “What is this!? It feels like you might be abducted by aliens,” said @ariimom. Thankfully, it was neither. Mashi, a travel producer, explained to Japanese publication Hint-pot that locals call this phenomenon “Isaribi Kochu.”

Image Source: Tracers and flares leave streaks in the night sky. (Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Representative Image Source: Tracers and flares leave streaks in the night sky. (Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

According to Japan Today, “Isaribi Kochu” literally means “fish-attracting light pillars.” “Isaribi” refers to the lights that are placed on fishing boats to attract more catches. The practice is fairly common in squid fishing. The light from fishing boats operating offshore at night refracts into the sky, producing vertical light pillars.

Representative Image Source: Pexels | orlovamaria
Representative Image Source: Pexels | orlovamaria

These light pillars are optical phenomena caused by the refraction of light from ice crystals, per AccuWeather. The gleaming pillars tend to take on the color of the light source such as a street light. CBS News further explained that these light pillars require really cold temperatures to form, but they can sometimes thrive in temperatures a little warmer than 0°F. 

Representative Image Source: Pexels | akshar dave
Representative Image Source: Pexels | Akshar Dave

Humidity and winds blend to create hexagonal-shaped ice crystals that get suspended in the air. In cold regions, the flurry of crystals may form a cluster near the ground. When the light from the surface hits these crystals, it gets refracted. The refraction results in the appearance of the light pillars. Mashi told Hint-pot that he saw this coruscating scene in front of his house and immediately picked up his mobile phone to take a photo. “I’ve received a variety of comments about the scenery that can be seen while living in Tottori, and I think it’s interesting that each person has a different way of looking at it,” he added.

via GIPHY

Mashi, however, isn’t the only person to have witnessed this brilliant phenomenon. A person who goes as @totoro8201 on X, commented on Mashi’s post, sharing a similar “light pillars” photograph. “I also saw it at Nariishi Beach in Kotoura Town,” their caption read. 

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