Alistair Roberts, a 37-year-old British man from Glasgow, has gone missing in Tokyo after leaving a poker game in the city's Kabukicho red-light district in the early hours of Saturday, July 11. He was last seen on a live camera stream leaving a poker establishment at 4:30am and has not been heard from since.
Disappearance described as out of character
Roberts had recently returned to Tokyo to be with his fiancée, who last heard from him at 3am, according to his friend Charles Hatch. His phone has since been dead, and no one can reach him. A missing person's report has been filed with the Tokyo police, who maintain that he is not in their custody.
Hatch described the disappearance as 'insanely out of character,' noting that Roberts was in a sound mental state and had just returned to Japan to be with his fiancée. He is a regular in the Kabukicho area, making it unlikely he followed any touts.
Police and embassy contacted
Attempts have been made to contact the UK embassy, and Hatch is desperately trying to inform Roberts' family back home. Expats, travellers, and locals have been urged to come forward with any information.
Hatch said: 'The police have stated they are searching their systems but as he appeared to be fine in his last sighting, they suspect he may have just decided to disappear on his own volition. This is insanely out of character as he just returned to Japan to be with his fiancée, and he was in a sound mental state. We are aware it may be possible that he is in police custody, but so far they have maintained their position that he isn't. He is also a regular to the Kabukicho area, and it is very unlikely he has followed any touts.'
