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Joji Obara

Joji Obara (born Kim Sung-jong; 10 August 1952) is a Korean-Japanese man convicted of multiple rape offenses in Japan and linked to the deaths of Australian woman Carita Ridgway and British woman Lucie Blackman.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Joji Obara (born Kim Sung-jong; 10 August 1952) is a Korean-Japanese man convicted of multiple rape offenses in Japan. He is linked to the deaths of Australian woman Carita Ridgway and British woman Lucie Blackman. Obara was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007, with later appeals related to the Blackman case ending in a life sentence being upheld.

Early life

Obara was born Kim Sung-jong in 1952. He later used the Japanese name Joji Obara. Public sources describe him as Korean-Japanese and based in Japan.

Criminal allegations and convictions

Obara was investigated for a large number of sexual assaults over several years, with some reports estimating 150 to 400 victims. Court proceedings led to convictions on multiple rape charges and the manslaughter of Carita Ridgway. Parts of the Blackman case were initially not proven to the court's standard.

Lucie Blackman case

Obara became internationally known after the disappearance of Lucie Blackman in 2000. He was charged in relation to her death, later acquitted of murder. After further appeals and related findings, his life sentence was upheld.

In 2007, Obara received a life sentence. Subsequent appeal decisions left that sentence in place. This made him one of the most widely reported criminal defendants in contemporary Japanese legal history.

Key facts

  • Obara is reported to have raped between 150 and 400 women between 1992 and 2000.
  • He was charged in connection with the disappearance, rape and death of Lucie Blackman, but was initially acquitted of her murder for lack of direct evidence.
  • He was convicted in 2007 of multiple rape charges and the manslaughter of Carita Ridgway and sentenced to life imprisonment.
  • Later court decisions upheld a life sentence after additional findings related to the handling of Blackman’s body.
  • Sources describe him as a Korean-Japanese serial rapist and one of Japan’s most notorious sexual crime defendants.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the case through coverage of Lucie Blackman, a British woman, and through broader international reporting on sexual violence, criminal justice, and the handling of high-profile trials.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Joji Obara?
Joji Obara is a Korean-Japanese man convicted of multiple rape offenses in Japan and linked to the deaths of Carita Ridgway and Lucie Blackman.
What was Joji Obara convicted of?
He was convicted of multiple rape charges and the manslaughter of Australian woman Carita Ridgway, and he received a life sentence.
Was Joji Obara convicted of murdering Lucie Blackman?
No. Public reports say he was acquitted of Blackman’s murder for lack of direct evidence, though later court findings related to her case supported his life sentence.
How many victims is Joji Obara said to have had?
Some sources estimate between 150 and 400 victims, though that figure is an allegation reported in secondary sources rather than a single definitive court total.
Is Joji Obara still alive?
Available reports indicate that he remains alive and is serving a life sentence in prison.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joji_Obara
    Supports: Birth name, approximate date of birth, nationality, allegations, charges, and 2007 life sentence
  2. Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/japanese-guilty-of-serial-rape-not-britons-death-idUST43773/
    Supports: Life sentence, rape convictions, and acquittal in Lucie Blackman murder charge
  3. The Telegraph — https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8190484/Japanese-killer-loses-final-appeal-in-Lucie-Blackman-case.html
    Supports: Final appeal result and life sentence upheld
  4. Manchester Evening News — https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/lucie-blackman-case-who-joji-27397607
    Supports: Biographical background and later appeal outcome