It is reported that a high school student refined uranium powder 'Yellowcake' and sold it at an auction.

On April 8, 2019, a high school boy in Tokyo was sent a document for manufacturing and possessing the highly lethal explosive ' erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) '. During the investigation, it was reported in various newspapers that high school boys purchased uranium, which is known as nuclear fuel, on the Internet and put up uranium concentrate (yellow cake) refined from it on the auction site. The news has become a hot topic overseas as it was taken up by The Japan Times , which delivers Japanese news in English.

Investigating even when buying and selling uranium = High school student who manufactures explosive ETNs-Suspected violation of the Act on the Regulation of Nuclear Reactors, Metropolitan Police Department: Jiji.com
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019040901354

Tokyo 16-year-old bought uranium and produced yellowcake to sell online, sources say | The Japan Times
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/10/national/crime-legal/tokyo-16-year-old-bought-uranium-produced-yellowcake-sell-online-sources-say/

Japanese Teen Suspected of Making Yellowcake Uranium Maybe Just Really Into Chemistry, Police Say
https://gizmodo.com/japanese-teen-suspected-of-making-yellowcake-uranium-ma-1833981357

In August 2018, a 19-year-old college student was arrested for producing acetone peroxide (TATP) and ETN, known as high explosives. It has been confirmed that the high school student who was sent the documents this time was interacting with multiple people who are interested in chemistry through Twitter and LINE, and it is believed that he was also exchanging information on the ETN manufacturing method with this student.

Due to the connection with the arrested university students, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Aichi Prefectural Police searched the homes of the high school boys in October 2018, and on April 8, 2019, the high school boys were sent documents on suspicion of violating the Explosives Control Law. In parallel with this investigation, in January 2019, the Metropolitan Police Department was informed that a substance with the words 'uranium 99.9%' was on sale at the auction site, and the high school student in this case said it. It turned out that I had purchased it. The Metropolitan Police Department is newly investigating on suspicion of violating the Act on the Regulation of Nuclear Reactors, which prohibits the sale and purchase of radioactive materials.

It is reported that high school boys used uranium purchased via the Internet to refine yellowcakes and sell them on auction sites. Yellowcake is a yellow substance that is refined when uranium is separated and extracted from uranium ore. It is refined when uranium is used in nuclear reactors, and is also concentrated and used for nuclear weapons. .. A high school student stated that he had no idea of misusing uranium and was refining it because of his chemical interest.