In 2000, a 21-year-old British woman, Lucie Blackman, mysteriously disappeared while working in Japan. It wasn’t until seven months later that her body was discovered buried in a cave located 30 miles south of Tokyo. This tragic story caught the attention of Netflix, which created a compelling documentary focusing on the case.
Lucie’s unexplained disappearance triggered an international investigation, eventually leading to the discovery of her body. The case soon took a twist when Korean-Japanese property developer, Joji Obara, was arrested in April 2001 under suspicion of involvement in Lucie’s death. The documentary, “Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case,” takes a fresh look at this shocking and tragic case through unprecedented interviews with the Japanese detectives who spearheaded the investigation.
So, who exactly was Lucie Blackman? And what really happened to her?
As Netflix airs the documentary, let’s delve into the details of the Lucie Blackman case, including the current status of Joji Obara.
Who Was Lucie Blackman?
Lucie Blackman, a 21-year-old British woman, was a former flight attendant for British Airways. Seeking new opportunities, she moved to Japan to work at the Casablanca nightclub in Tokyo. In her role at the club, she often went on paid dates with customers.
The Disappearance and Tragic Discovery of Lucie Blackman
On 1st July 2000, Lucie went on a date with a customer and made various calls to her friend, Louise Phillips, who had traveled to Japan with her. Following the date, Phillips received a call from an unknown individual who claimed Lucie had joined a cult and would never be heard from again.
This alarming news led Lucie’s family to embark on a journey to Tokyo in hopes of finding her. They launched a media campaign to bring attention to her case, and the then-British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, pledged to discuss the matter with his Japanese counterpart at a G8 summit.
On 9th February 2001, seven months after her disappearance, Lucie’s body was found in a cave near a beach 30 miles south of Tokyo. The decomposition of her body hindered the determination of the cause of her death.
Joji Obara: A Prime Suspect
In April 2001, Joji Obara was arrested on suspicion of Lucie’s death. Despite admitting to meeting her, Obara denied any involvement in her demise. In a shocking turn, three women subsequently came forward describing experiences of waking up in Obara’s bed without any memory of the previous night.
In October 2002, Obara faced charges of drugging, raping, and killing Lucie, but was acquitted due to a lack of direct evidence. In 2007, however, Obara was sentenced to life in prison for raping nine other women, one of whom was Carita Ridgway, who died.
“Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case” is available for streaming on Netflix.
