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Missing student Natsumi Kogawa sought by police, friends

As Vancouver and Burnaby police continue to search for Japanese ESL student Natsumi Kogawa, her friends have also been canvassing for information about where she may be.

Japanese ESL student was last seen in downtown Vancouver Sept. 7

Chad Pawson · CBC News ·
Police in Vancouver and Burnaby are asking for information related to the disappearance of Natsumi Kogawa, 30, while her friends in Vancouver have also been handing out flyers with her image on them. (Vancouver Police Department)

For those who know missing Japanese ESL student Natsumi Kogawa, it's been a baffling 10 days since she disappeared.

"She's not depressed, she wasn't going through any issues. Her relationships with her friends … was fantastic," said Jay Vergara, who along with others has been canvassing for information about where the 30-year-old is.

People who know missing Japanese student Natsumi Kogawa, including Jay Vergara, right, have been canvassing for information about where she is. (CBC)

Kogawa , 29, was last seen in downtown Vancouver Sept. 7 and was last in contact with friends Sept. 8.

"On Thursday [Sept 8.] she had an appointment with one of her friends to meet up at 5:30 [p.m.]," said Vergara. "She messaged that friend at 11:30 in the morning on Thursday but that's the last communication anyone got from Natsumi."

Vancouver police say Kogawa is an experienced traveler who is studying English in Vancouver, while Vergara says she recently graduated and lived close to the Holdom SkyTrain station.

"She's a really hard worker and she would just study at the library by herself, we would hang out, she would study, I would do my work, or she might go to a park sometimes like the park at Science World and just study there in the sun," he said.

A sign posted near the Holdom SkyTrain Station in Burnaby about Natsumi Kogawa, a missing 30-year-old from Japan. (CBC)

Both Vancouver police and Burnaby RCMP have issued releases related to Kogawa's disappearance.

She is described as:

  • Asian.
  • 4'11" tall (1.5 metres) with a slim build.
  • Has long hair and brown eyes.
  • May be carrying a black backpack.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call Burnaby RCMP's missing persons unit at 604-294-7922.

Meanwhile media from Japan has arrived in Vancouver to cover the story of Kogawa's disappearance.

Japanese media have been covering the disappearance of Natsumi Kogawa who has last seen in Vancouver on Sept. 7, 2016. (fnn-news.com)

"Well because Vancouver is a hub to learn English," said Vergara. "And the concern is, 'hey one of our very own she came here to study, she disappeared so is that a cause of concern for people in Japan' or... in other places."

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