U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is continuing to assist in the search for a missing Hubbard man who was last seen Feb. 1 in his apartment near the school where he teaches on a U.S. air base in Japan.

Ryan, D-Howland, talked Sunday to Japanese State Minister of Defense Yasuhide Nakayama about the ongoing investigation into Balint’s disappearance.

“Minister Nakayama offered his personal support, as well as that of the Japanese government … ,” Ryan wrote in a news release. “This is a tragedy for the Balint family. Minster Nakayama’s comments reassured me that one of our most steadfast allies is doing everything that they can to help locate a member of our Ohio family. I will continue to do everything in my power to help expedite this investigation and hopefully bring a positive resolution to this difficult situation.”

According to a post from Balint’s wife Britni from Brookfield, she last saw her husband at 1:30 a.m.Feb. 1 at their apartment located not far from the east gate of Yakota Air Base. Trevor Balint taught at Mendel Elementary School which is close to the apartment.

Ryan has said he’s been in close contact with Japanese authorities about the search, which has included police looking at Balint’s phone records, reports show.

Balint, 34, was last seen wearing a gray short-sleeve T-shirt.

Britni Balint had received a phone call later on Feb. 1 that someone had found Balint’s wallet at a building located on the base.

At 5:30 p.m. that day, the wife retrieved the wallet and in a search of the building found Trevor’s cellphone, keys, jacket, facemask, shoes as well as alcoholic beverage containers. She called security to report Balint missing after coming home from that search.

Britni Balint’s mother, Denise Mott of Brookfield, last week received an emergency visa to join her daughter in Japan for support and to help with the search.