Mr Blackman holds a press conference in Tokyo and prime time news programmes in Japan carry the story of the disappearance. He rejects suggestions that his daughter might have run away to escape credit card debts. About 30,000 posters of Ms Blackman are distributed in Tokyo. Nationwide appeals have prompted 100 calls from the public which detectives follow up. Mr Blackman and Sophie carry out their own investigations, establishing their own office in Tokyo near the Casablanca bar.
Detectives dismiss it as a fake.
A Japanese businessman, who was questioned by police about Lucie's disappearance, is found dead in an apartment with a Missing person poster of Ms Blackman. Mr Blackman, close to despair, flies back to England after having spent tens of thousands of pounds in the unsuccessful effort to find his daughter. Obara admits having met Ms Blackman but denies playing any part in her disappearance.