A man from the UK has disappeared in Tokyo after participating in a poker game in the city’s red-light district. Alistair Roberts, hailing from Glasgow, left the game early on Saturday morning and hasn’t been in contact since. His sudden absence, deemed uncharacteristic by his loved ones, has raised concerns. The 37-year-old was last spotted on a live camera feed from Kabukicho, a renowned red-light area known as the “sleepless town,” exiting a poker venue at 4:30 am on Saturday before vanishing.
Roberts had recently come back to Tokyo to reunite with his fiancée, with his friend Charles Hatch mentioning that the last communication was at 3 am. His phone has been inactive since, leaving him unreachable. Tokyo police have been informed through a missing person’s report, confirming he is not under their supervision. Efforts have been made to contact the UK embassy and notify Roberts’ family about his disappearance.
Authorities are urging expatriates, tourists, and locals to share any information they may have regarding Roberts. Hatch expressed disbelief at the situation, highlighting that despite appearing fine during his last sighting, the police suspect he may have chosen to vanish voluntarily. This behavior contrasts with Roberts’ recent return to Japan to be with his fiancée, indicating a stable mental state. While the possibility of police custody remains, law enforcement denies holding him. Moreover, due to his familiarity with the Kabukicho region, it is improbable that he fell prey to any street promoters.