324:(condolence money) from a friend of Obara's. Blackman's other family members were opposed to accepting the money. Some of the money was used to establish the Lucie Blackman Trust (later called LBT Global), a charity providing safety advice for British people overseas, and assistance for families of British people missing, or murdered, abroad. The judge stated that in deciding on the sentence he did not attach much importance to Obara's payment of "consolation money" to a number of his victims.
313:
showed him raping women (including one with
Ridgway). For the charge of manslaughter, the prosecutor produced an autopsy report showing traces of chloroform in Ridgway's liver and a paper trail showing that Obara accompanied her to the hospital before she died. In Blackman's case, however, the prosecutor could not produce any
280:
100,000. As a result of the publicity surrounding the case, three foreign women came forward to describe waking up sore and sick in Obara's bed, with no memory of the night before. Several of them had reported him to
Roppongi police, but were ignored. It was also around this time that police made the
346:
The
Japanese judicial system received criticism for its handling of the case. It is believed that the police did not take this missing person case seriously "because Lucie was working illegally in a job from which women often flee without notice". As a result, the discovery of the body came too late
312:
of
Ridgway. His trial began on July 4, 2001. On April 24, 2007, he was found guilty of multiple rape charges and manslaughter, but was acquitted of Blackman's rape and murder for lack of direct evidence. Evidence supporting his guilt of rape included the approximately 400 videos shot by Obara, which
213:. Obara's culpability was exposed when, while using an alias (Nishita), he had taken an unconscious Ridgway to the hospital claiming that she was suffering from shellfish (oyster)-related food poisoning. Ridgway died after life-support was stopped at her family's request; she was then cremated and
161:
them. Obara victimized women of both
Japanese and Western backgrounds. He recorded his attacks on videotape, at least 400 of which were recovered by police, giving them cause to believe that he might have raped anywhere from 150 to 400 women. Police found extensive journals in which Obara made
221:, and there was no support for an investigation by the embassy or Japanese police as requested by the family. When police later searched Obara's home, they found a diary entry that read, "Carita Ridgway, too much chloroform", and a videotape of Obara raping Ridgway.
198:, and sometimes dance – with a strict policy against men touching the hostesses or making sexual propositions. Popular hostesses often receive drinks, presents and social invitations from their favourite customers.
288:, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Tokyo and a few hundred meters from Obara's apartment. The body had been cut into 10 pieces and put inside separate bags, her head shaved and encased in concrete. The body was too
80:
found Obara guilty on the counts of abduction, dismemberment and disposal of
Blackman's body. Blackman's death, as well as Obara's trial, received extensive press coverage internationally, especially in Britain.
335:. The public prosecutor, however, appealed the Blackman-related verdicts, as crucial forensic evidence had not been heard at the original trial, and on March 25, 2008, an appeal trial commenced in the
1182:
249:
and went to Japan to see the world and earn money to repay her debts. At the time of her death, she was working as a hostess at
Casablanca, a nightclub later known as Greengrass, in
76:
In 2007, Obara was jailed for life on multiple rape charges and manslaughter, but was acquitted of
Blackman's rape and murder for lack of direct evidence. In December 2008, the
1381:
1351:
347:
to determine the cause of death. The verdict, by a panel of three judges, cited the lack of forensic evidence as a reason for acquittal. Some foreign media from
743:
1130:
339:. The court found Obara guilty on the counts of abduction, dismemberment and disposal of Blackman's body on December 16, 2008. In early December 2010, the
372:
863:
157:
women. He developed a pattern of criminal behavior, beginning with unlawfully administering drugs to render his victims unconscious, then abducting and
1336:
1192:
562:
327:
The former prosecutor
Takeshi Tsuchimoto criticised the decision to acquit Obara for the murder of Blackman by pointing to the conviction of
260:
Blackman's family, wanting to find her, flew to Tokyo and started a high-profile media campaign. They approached
Britain's foreign secretary
101:. Obara was educated at private Tokyo schools, and received daily tutoring in a variety of subjects. At age 15, he enrolled in a prestigious
654:
264:, who was visiting Tokyo at that time. Newspapers started publicizing Blackman's disappearance on July 13, when Britain's prime minister
1346:
1341:
1306:
966:
791:
1059:
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1331:
1326:
1104:
1376:
308:
In October 2000, Obara was charged with drugging, raping and killing Blackman, as well as with raping eight other women and the
97:. During his youth, Obara's father worked his way from scrap collector to immensely wealthy owner of a string of properties and
1371:
113:, Obara inherited property in Osaka and Tokyo. After traveling extensively and graduating from Keio University with degrees in
504:
1280:
694:
257:(paid date) with a Casablanca customer. Other than a few calls to a friend during the date, no one heard from her again.
1031:
483:
102:
753:
194:
entertainer, i.e. young women at bars who are paid to engage in conversation with men, light their cigarettes, sing
408:
Evidence Locker True Crime Podcast: 11. Japan | The Hostess Murders (Carita Ridgway and Lucie Blackman (Joji Obara)
122:
1386:
1356:
1140:
293:
229:
Lucie Jane Blackman (September 1, 1978 – July 1, 2000), known as Lucie, was a British woman from
166:
on women whom he wrote were “good only for sex" and on whom he sought "revenge on the world" drugging them with
284:
On February 9, 2001, Blackman's body was found, buried in a shallow grave under a bathtub in a seaside cave at
407:
300:, then killed her. Obara has maintained his innocence, claiming the drugs were voluntarily self-administered.
179:
109:, virtually guaranteeing his acceptance into the university. Two years later, after his father's death in
385:
61:
who raped between 150 and 400 women. He was charged with drugging, raping and killing an English woman,
475:
178:
Carita Simone Ridgway (March 3, 1970 – February 29, 1992) was an Australian model from
620:
328:
187:
839:
424:
361:
1254:
1366:
332:
129:, gaining assets estimated as much as $ 38 million. After losing his fortune and his firm in the
664:
268:
mentioned the case during an official visit to Japan, where he met with Japanese prime minister
1361:
419:
340:
1300:
1227:
1011:
946:
1321:
1206:
976:
922:
811:
728:
898:
834:
8:
377:
289:
130:
991:
452:
768:
186:
area as a bar hostess to earn money for acting school. Common in East Asian nations, "
1281:"People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman by Richard Lloyd Parry – review"
873:
479:
314:
1064:
336:
242:
134:
77:
868:
659:
351:
countries also criticised the police for having leaked information to the press.
297:
285:
246:
106:
98:
90:
44:
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to show the cause of death. According to Obara's indictment, he made Blackman a
796:
723:
574:
Born Kim Sung Jong in 1952 to a super rich Japanese/Korean parents in Osaka,...
163:
700:
1315:
1155:
927:
877:
206:
142:
58:
533:
1232:
309:
269:
214:
154:
94:
66:
1105:"Family step away from Lucie Blackman Trust, which rebrands as LBT Global"
1187:
1036:
971:
816:
238:
218:
210:
126:
1207:"Justice at last for Lucie Blackman family as 'evil' abductor is jailed"
317:
linking Obara to her death. Her cause of death could not be determined.
748:
348:
273:
265:
261:
202:
167:
1211:
1135:
996:
392:
230:
133:, he was pursued by creditors, and reportedly used his business as a
110:
1080:"Lucie Blackman Trust - Missing Abroad, Murder Abroad, Death Abroad"
125:
and legally changed his name. Obara invested heavily in real estate
1016:
951:
773:
538:
250:
201:
Ridgway, who was offered a lift by Obara, was drugged; this led to
114:
1183:"Obara pleads not guilty in appeal trial over killing of Blackman"
1084:
Lucie Blackman Trust - Missing Abroad, Murder Abroad, Death Abroad
1160:
567:
281:
connection between cases via the man known as Nishita and Obara.
195:
191:
138:
724:"Japanese businessman arrested over rape of Australian woman"
183:
51:
967:"Approach to Blackman slaying hit, likened to Keystone Cops"
153:
Obara was a drug user who was reported to have a fetish for
1079:
234:
158:
277:
1060:"Lucie's father 'helped killer by accepting blood money'"
162:
reference to "conquest play", a euphemism describing his
118:
343:
rejected Obara's appeal and upheld his life sentence.
320:
Blackman's father, Tim Blackman, accepted £450,000 in
217:
to Australia. The cause of death was initially deemed
864:"Tokyo Vice extract: Behind the Lucie Blackman story"
398:
Asian Madness Podcast: Episode92, “Deadly Obsessions”
1156:"Japan legal battle on Briton's death far from over"
472:
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman
395:
Podcast: Episode 9, "The Beast With The Human Face"
373:
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman
1131:"Joji Obara: Not Guilty of Lucie Blackman Killing"
276:, and an anonymous businessman funded a reward of
1382:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Japan
1352:Japanese prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
992:"How the bubble burst for Lucie's alleged killer"
940:
938:
453:"How the bubble burst for Lucie's alleged killer"
1313:
272:. An information hotline was staffed by English
57:) (born on 10 August 1952) is a Korean-Japanese
1228:"Sevenoaks girl who hoped to spin blonde to go"
692:
621:"Case 107: Lucie Blackman & Carita Ridgway"
563:"A tale of rape, murder and a Japanese playboy"
30:
935:
899:"Lives Lost in Translation: Vanished Overseas"
241:in Tokyo. Blackman had previously worked as a
24:
835:"Vanished in Tokyo: 'We'll Never Have Peace'"
571:. Melbourne, Australia: The Age Company Ltd.
1303: – BBC profile of Joji Obara
48:
786:
784:
376: – a February 2011 book by
190:" in this sense describes a modern form of
1097:
812:"Monster in Blackman case still an enigma"
528:
526:
1337:Japanese people convicted of manslaughter
861:
294:drink containing a drug before raping her
89:Joji Obara was born on 10 August 1952 to
1278:
990:Parry, Richard Lloyd (August 17, 2005).
959:
923:"Japan's dark underbelly: Doing justice"
781:
944:
766:
523:
1314:
1225:
652:
648:
646:
644:
642:
560:
73:, and the rape of eight other women.
1279:Morrison, Blake (February 19, 2011).
1012:"Remains identified as missing Lucie"
989:
829:
827:
718:
716:
615:
613:
611:
609:
607:
605:
603:
505:"I'm haunted by my daughter's murder"
469:
389:aired an episode revisiting the case.
1153:
688:
686:
684:
682:
601:
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595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
583:
499:
497:
495:
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
983:
752:. February 27, 2005. Archived from
696:20/20 ABC Vanished Missing in Japan
639:
180:Claremont, Perth, Western Australia
13:
1255:"ABC News 20/20 Vanished in Japan"
824:
713:
653:Wright, Evan Alan (May 14, 2001).
253:, Tokyo. On July 1, she went on a
16:Japanese serial rapist (born 1952)
14:
1403:
1347:Japanese people of Korean descent
1342:Japanese people convicted of rape
1294:
947:"How family forced police to act"
945:Summers, Chris (April 24, 2007).
862:Adelstein, Jake (June 19, 2010).
679:
580:
561:Norrie, Justin (April 21, 2007).
534:"Man cleared over death of Lucie"
492:
436:
224:
173:
1139:. April 24, 2007. Archived from
975:. April 24, 2007. Archived from
767:Summers, Chris (24 April 2007).
402:Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case
1392:Drug-facilitated sexual assault
1332:21st-century Japanese criminals
1327:20th-century Japanese criminals
1272:
1247:
1226:Weaver, Matt (April 24, 2007).
1219:
1199:
1191:. 26 March 2008. Archived from
1175:
1147:
1123:
1072:
1052:
1032:"Obara pleads innocent to rape"
1024:
1004:
931:. 24 February 2011. p. 90.
915:
891:
855:
820:. 22 February 2011. p. 12.
804:
769:"The 'beast with a human face'"
760:
736:
1377:People convicted of kidnapping
1154:Sieg, Linda (April 25, 2007).
693:Richard Straton (2018-05-22),
554:
463:
364:aired a US documentary titled
49:
1:
1372:Naturalized citizens of Japan
1301:The 'beast with a human face'
744:"Transcript – Night Stalkers"
470:Parry, Richard Lloyd (2000).
430:
182:, who was working in Tokyo's
84:
65:, in July 2000, the rape and
792:"Evil behind Tokyo's lights"
625:Casefile: True Crime Podcast
123:naturalized Japanese citizen
7:
476:Farrar, Straus & Giroux
413:
386:Casefile True Crime Podcast
31:
10:
1408:
368:related to the two deaths.
148:
25:
425:Murder of Lindsay Hawker
354:
303:
69:of an Australian woman,
333:circumstantial evidence
1387:Zainichi Korean people
1357:Keio University alumni
1143:on September 27, 2007.
420:List of serial rapists
383:On February 24, 2019,
360:On February 29, 2008,
341:Supreme Court of Japan
979:on February 18, 2009.
756:on November 30, 2006.
1307:Lucie Blackman Trust
655:"Death of a Hostess"
296:at a condominium in
1215:. December 8, 2010.
1040:. December 15, 2000
1020:. 10 February 2001.
627:. February 23, 2019
378:Richard Lloyd Parry
1111:. 10 November 2020
459:. August 17, 2005.
237:, who worked as a
800:. April 20, 2007.
667:on March 10, 2007
474:. New York City:
366:Vanished in Japan
315:forensic evidence
1399:
1289:
1288:
1276:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1266:
1251:
1245:
1244:
1242:
1240:
1223:
1217:
1216:
1203:
1197:
1196:
1195:on July 5, 2008.
1179:
1173:
1172:
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1151:
1145:
1144:
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1120:
1118:
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1094:
1092:
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1070:
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1068:. 20 April 2007.
1065:Evening Standard
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1050:
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884:
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853:
852:
850:
848:
843:. April 24, 2009
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822:
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779:
778:
764:
758:
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740:
734:
733:
720:
711:
710:
709:
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699:, archived from
690:
677:
676:
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672:
663:. Archived from
650:
637:
636:
634:
632:
617:
578:
577:
558:
552:
551:
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547:
542:. April 24, 2007
530:
521:
520:
518:
516:
501:
490:
489:
467:
461:
460:
449:
337:Tokyo High Court
243:flight attendant
135:money laundering
105:affiliated with
99:pachinko parlors
78:Tokyo High Court
56:
55:
38:
37:
34:
28:
27:
1407:
1406:
1402:
1401:
1400:
1398:
1397:
1396:
1312:
1311:
1297:
1292:
1277:
1273:
1264:
1262:
1261:. 7 August 2008
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869:Daily Telegraph
860:
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846:
844:
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832:
825:
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790:
789:
782:
765:
761:
742:
741:
737:
732:. 9 April 2001.
722:
721:
714:
706:
704:
691:
680:
670:
668:
651:
640:
630:
628:
619:
618:
581:
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545:
543:
532:
531:
524:
514:
512:
503:
502:
493:
486:
478:. p. 204.
468:
464:
451:
450:
437:
433:
416:
404:(Netflix, 2023)
357:
306:
286:Miura, Kanagawa
247:British Airways
227:
176:
164:sexual assaults
151:
131:1990s recession
107:Keio University
91:Zainichi Korean
87:
35:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1405:
1395:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1367:Male murderers
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1310:
1309:
1304:
1296:
1295:External links
1293:
1291:
1290:
1271:
1259:www.amazon.com
1246:
1218:
1198:
1174:
1146:
1122:
1096:
1071:
1051:
1023:
1003:
982:
958:
934:
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854:
823:
803:
797:Brisbane Times
780:
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735:
712:
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638:
579:
553:
522:
511:. 29 June 2011
491:
485:978-0374230593
484:
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410:
405:
399:
396:
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381:
369:
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329:Masumi Hayashi
305:
302:
226:
225:Lucie Blackman
223:
175:
174:Carita Ridgway
172:
150:
147:
137:front for the
121:, he became a
86:
83:
71:Carita Ridgway
63:Lucie Blackman
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1404:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
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1375:
1373:
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1362:Living people
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1055:
1039:
1038:
1033:
1027:
1019:
1018:
1013:
1007:
999:
998:
993:
986:
978:
974:
973:
968:
962:
954:
953:
948:
941:
939:
930:
929:
928:The Economist
924:
918:
904:
900:
894:
879:
875:
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865:
858:
842:
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755:
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745:
739:
731:
730:
725:
719:
717:
703:on 2020-06-19
702:
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207:liver failure
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143:Sumiyoshi-kai
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100:
96:
92:
82:
79:
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60:
59:serial rapist
53:
46:
42:
41:Kim Sung-jong
33:
21:
1285:The Guardian
1284:
1274:
1263:. Retrieved
1258:
1249:
1239:November 29,
1237:. Retrieved
1233:The Guardian
1231:
1221:
1210:
1201:
1193:the original
1186:
1177:
1165:. Retrieved
1159:
1149:
1141:the original
1134:
1125:
1113:. Retrieved
1109:On the Wight
1108:
1099:
1089:February 25,
1087:. Retrieved
1083:
1074:
1063:
1054:
1042:. Retrieved
1035:
1026:
1015:
1006:
995:
985:
977:the original
970:
961:
950:
926:
917:
906:. Retrieved
902:
893:
883:February 25,
881:. Retrieved
867:
857:
847:February 25,
845:. Retrieved
838:
815:
806:
795:
772:
762:
754:the original
747:
738:
727:
705:, retrieved
701:the original
695:
669:. Retrieved
665:the original
658:
631:February 25,
629:. Retrieved
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