True Crime
Lucie Blackman and Carita Ridgway Lost Their Lives to A Sexual Predator
100s more who had to settle for the justice only a dozen or so of Joji Obara’s victims received
Joji Obara is a Korean-Japanese serial rapist believed to have raped between 150 and 400 women. He is most widely known for two particular victims — Lucie Blackman and Carita Ridgway.
The Predator
Obara was born Kim Sung Jong on August 10, 1952. His parents were Koreans living in Osaka, Japan. Obara’s father worked his way up from being an impoverished scrap collector to becoming the wealthy owner of numerous properties and pachinko parlors, which are similar to slot machine casinos. Thus, Obara was able to attend the best private schools in Tokyo and had a personal tutor that prepared him for entry into an impressive prep school operated by Keio University.
Two years later, when Obara was only 17, his father died, leaving him property in Osaka and Tokyo. This paved the way for him to finish his education at Keio University, achieving degrees in politics and law. He traveled…
