MANHATTAN — A Japanese tourist went missing early Tuesday morning while walking his daughter's dog, and police are asking the public for help locating him.
Masakatsu Ito, 69, a retired bakery store owner from Akita, left the apartment of his daughter, Ayako Steele, at Park Avenue and East 28th Street around 8 a.m. with her 11-year-old terrier, Buddy.
According to police, Ito walked south and then turned east onto East 28th Street and has not been seen or heard from since then.
“I am terribly worried,” his daughter, a legal consultant, told DNAinfo New York.
She said her father was visiting her for the first time in two years and they were having the time of their lives because his stay included a trip to Yankee Stadium to see Japanese baseball sensation Masahiro Tanaka pitch.
He takes medication which may disorient him, police said.
“We were having a wonderful visit, but now I am just concerned for his safety,” she added.
Police say Ito, who does not speak English, was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and white pants.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS or the 13th Precinct's Detective Squad at 1-212-477-7444.
