Jeffrey Dahmer, a psychopath and racist serial killer, is a well-recognized name due to numerous films and series that have portrayed him and attempted to analyze his disturbed psyche. However, a similar figure, Joji Obara, also known as Kim Sung-Jon, lived most of his life in the shadows of Tokyo’s streets, and very few people even knew about him. He was an extremely perverted and twisted psychopath with a particular obsession with white women. Obara would lure them into his trap, drugging and raping them. While some victims managed to return home, others suffered brutal slaughter at Obara’s hands or eventually died after getting drugged by Obara. In the recent Netflix documentary Missing The Lucie Blackman Case, the disappearance of 23-year-old Lucie Blackman was highlighted, shedding light on the actions of Joji Obara, this sick monster who destroyed many lives and robbed young aspiring women of their dreams, leaving their families forever grieving for them.
What were Joji Obara’s Crimes?
Obara, a well-educated man, turned out to be a stone-cold murderer and rapist. He brutally killed Lucie Blackman and ruined the lives of almost 400 women. Obara worked as a property handler but lost his fortune and firm, which led to him being chased by creditors. During this time, he fell into drug addiction, which eventually led to his downfall. As a drug user, Obara gradually developed criminal tendencies, drugging and raping women. He even recorded these horrifying acts on videotapes, indicating a complete lack of empathy, emotion, or humanity. One of his victims, Carita, was attacked and drugged with chloroform, leading to liver failure and death. In a similar manner, he preyed on Lucie Blackman and ended up dismembering her body.
Obara’s series of crimes came to light when a young British woman, Lucie Blackman, who worked at a restaurant called Casablanca in Roppongi, Tokyo, disappeared. But even before Lucie, Obara had a history of drugging, raping, and even killing women, including an innocent young hostess named Carita Ridgway, an Australian model who came to Japan. It is estimated that Obara attacked around 150 to 400 women.
When Lucie Blackman went missing, her father, Tim Blackman, quickly arrived in Japan from the UK, accompanied by his younger daughter, Sophie. While the Tokyo police were conducting their investigation in their own way, the Blackman family launched a massive media campaign to find their daughter. The police became concerned about the extensive media attention, fearing it might lead the abductor to harm Lucie. Sadly, their worst nightmare came true in 2001, when Lucie’s dismembered body was discovered in a grave under a seaside cave in Miura, near Obara’s apartment.
In 2000, Joji Obara faced charges of sexual assault, unlawful drug administration, and the killing of Lucie Blackman. Subsequently, in 2001, his trial began, and it continued until 2007, when he was ultimately found guilty. Throughout the entire process, Obara vehemently maintained his claim of innocence, consistently denying any involvement in the crimes he was accused of.
During the investigation, the police made a significant discovery: they recovered around 400 videotapes, which served as substantial evidence indicating that Obara had committed rape against approximately 400 women. Despite this extensive evidence of his heinous crimes, there was a lack of direct proof connecting him to Lucie Blackman’s murder, leading to his acquittal in that particular case. However, the story took a turn in 2008 and 2010 when strong forensic evidence surfaced against Joji Obara, leading to his conviction and a life sentence. His constant pleas of innocence were firmly rejected by the court, given the compelling evidence against him.
Where is Joji Obara Now?
Obara’s modus operandi was that of a sick and twisted personality with a strong misogynistic mindset. His journal, filled with sickening writings about his own activities, reflects his complete lack of empathy and remorse for the pain and suffering he inflicted on his victims. His journal contained disturbing writings about his own dreadful activities, including a term he used called “conquer play.” Through this term, he portrayed his horrifying intent to conquer women, treating them as if they were mere objects. His continuous refusal to accept guilt and his efforts to pass the blame displayed a manipulative and crafty disposition. Despite an abundance of incriminating evidence, he stubbornly clung to the illusion of innocence, revealing a complete disconnection from reality.
An in-depth study of Joji Obara’s psyche would likely uncover a tangled web of serious psychological problems linked to his disturbing beliefs about women and his dangerous craving for power and dominance. His actions reveal a complete absence of conscience and empathy, along with a shocking ability to be cruel. Obara’s case serves as a chilling reminder of the darkest aspects of the human mind, highlighting the need to comprehend and address such deeply troubled individuals to safeguard society from such horrors. Obara had intentionally wreaked havoc on the lives of countless women, which could never be forgivable. He mentioned getting revenge by attacking these women while they were unconscious, a method he achieved through the use of chloroform, as seen in the sickening videotapes. The videos, especially the one involving Carita Ridgeway, showcased the monstrous ways he ruined these women’s lives.
Despite receiving a life sentence from the Supreme Court of Japan, Obara remained remorseless, constantly attempting to prove his innocence. He fabricated stories about Lucie self-administering drugs, trying to shift blame for her tragic death, and made many more excuses, not realizing that the police saw through his lies. However, even with the culprit now behind bars and serving a life sentence, the lives of the women who could survive could never fully return to normal. The lingering trauma from what they endured left them fearful of doing something as simple as going out on the streets.
Lucie Blackman’s family suffered an irreparable loss, and no amount of campaigning could bring her back. The impact of Obara’s heinous acts will forever haunt the lives of his victims and their loved ones; a stark reminder of the lasting devastation caused by such a perverted monster.
