Police were last night hunting a 28-year-old man after the body of a young British teacher was found in a bath full of sand in a flat in Japan.

Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22, graduated less than a year ago from Leeds University and travelled to Japan five months ago to teach English.

She was reported missing by the Nova language school in Tokyo where she worked. She had failed to answer her mobile phone when her British flatmate tried to call.

Police launched an investigation and as part of their inquiries they went to the flat of a 28-year-old Japanese man, who has been described as an acquaintance of Miss Hawker.

It was at the apartment in the city of Ichikawa in the Chiba region of Japan where they found the body on Monday night.

It is understood she was found in a bath on the balcony of the fourth-floor flat. Her entire body, apart from one hand, was covered in sand. An arrest warrant was issued for the man.

Tatsuya Ichihashi, 28, was placed on a nationwide wanted list, on suspicion of abandonment of a body.

Miss Hawker's friends and colleagues in Japan and the UK said they were shocked by the murder.

Ash Glaser, who studied biology at Leeds University, posted a message on a website paying tribute to his friend. It said: "How could anyone touch her? She had not a bad word to say about anybody. What a waste of such a wonderful life. So caring, funny, generous, clever and above all a good friend."

Miss Hawker's family were too upset to speak yesterday as they were comforted by friends and relatives at home.

But Chief Inspector Dale Pritchard, of Warwickshire Police, later made a short statement on behalf of her family. He said: "They are in a terrible position, one in which no-one would ever want to be. They just want to be left alone to manage their grief in private."

Miss Hawker was a pupil at King Henry VIII's School in Coventry before she went to Leeds University in 2003, graduating in 2006.

George Fisher, headteacher at her former school, said: "I knew Lindsay well. She was a very popular student and the school and staff are devastated."

A spokeswoman from the Nova language school in London said that Miss Hawker had started teaching in Japan at the end of October last year.

"Lindsay took her job very seriously and put every effort into it," she said. "She was trying very hard to get used to Japan. We are very sorry that this incident has taken place."

Local reports said that the flat in which Miss Hawker's body was found belonged to her boyfriend. One report said that her handbag and identification were also found in the building.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said British embassy officials were being kept up to date with any developments.

She added: "We can confirm that the body of a British national was found in an apartment in the Chiba district of Tokyo. Next of kin have been informed and we are in close contact with relatives.

"Japanese police investigations are ongoing and they are keeping the British embassy fully informed."

The case follows the death of British bar hostess Lucie Blackman, 21, who was working at a Tokyo nightclub when she disappeared in 2000.

Her remains were discovered near a beachside condominium outside the city in February 2001. Japanese businessman Joji Obara, 54, is accused of raping and fatally drugging Miss Blackman before dismembering her body in June 2000. A ruling in the case is expected later this year.

A statement issued by the Lucie Blackman Trust, which was set up by her family to help support young travellers, said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of Lindsay Hawker's death, especially as this tragic event took place in Japan.

"Our founder, Tim Blackman, would also like to express his very personal sympathy to her family."