Machimura's belief doesn't jibe with the official position of the Japanese government, which issued a statement Tuesday saying it "has not confirmed the existence of unidentified flying objects from outer space," The Japan Times reported Wednesday.

"How else do you explain those various unexplainable things like Nazca," he said, referring to mysterious giant drawings of animals and other figures in southern Peru.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is not so sure. When asked by reporters, he smiled and said he has not "identified (such objects) yet."