Police search for American college student missing in Japan

TOKYO—A troubled American college student has disappeared in northern Japan and her family fears she wanted to see cherry blossoms bloom before killing herself, her sister said Wednesday.

The family of Skye Lynn Budnick, of Southington, Connecticut, reported her missing to Japanese authorities last week, and police have been looking for her. She hasn't been seen since April 7.

Skye, 21, a junior at Central Connecticut State University who was depressed and often talked of suicide, left her home on April 1 without telling her family she was going to Japan, her sister, Megan Budnick, told The Associated Press.

"I am concerned she might do something to hurt herself," said Megan, who was in Japan to help authorities in the search. "She spoke of wanting to see cherry blossoms. That'd be something she wants to see before she dies."

Her family began looking for her after Skye did not return home for a few days. On April 4, the family looked at her e-mail and found she had bought a one-way ticket to Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, Megan said.

"We don't know why she is here. She loves the whole Japanese culture but I don't know why Sapporo," Megan said by telephone from Sapporo, the largest city on the island.

Megan and her mother have been there since last week.

Skye was last seen at an inn in Noboribetsu, in southern Hokkaido, on April 7 and told an innkeeper she was going to Sapporo, Megan said, citing police information.

Cherry blossoms, a springtime tourist attraction, are expected to start blooming later this month in Hokkaido.