As more news comes out about Luigi Mangione, the man whom police have arrested for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, more information is coming to light about the shooter’s loose connection to Japan. A new social media post by a Japanese poker player recalls his random meeting with Mangione back in February.
Mangione made a trip to Japan earlier this year. (His X account is no longer available for us to verify exact dates.) In subsequent posts, he disparaged Japan as “NPC-ville.” He posted a sizable screed about how Japan should correct its failing birth rate, which included “stigmatizing maid cafes” and banning Tenga masturbation devices.
In a post today on his X account, one man – poker player Obara Jun – recounts his random meeting with Mangione. It appears people tipped Obara off that he had met the shooter after finding a post on Obara’s timeline with a man who looks like Mangione.
Obara responded with a post in English on his X account. In the post, Obara said, “I live in Japan and was having a fun meal with a friend at a restaurant in Tokyo that day. He came in by himself, and we talked to him and treated him to a meal and drinks because we wanted him to enjoy Japan.”
Mangione told Obara he had traveled there from Hawaii. Obara continues, “I have no idea what kind of person he is, let alone his contact information.”
“I would also like to express my deepest condolences to Mr. Thompson of United Healthcare,” the victim, Obara finished.
On the website for Super Brain Poker Academy, Obara, 36, is described as a professional poker player with around $673,000 in tournament winnings to date who focuses mainly on overseas tournaments.
The murder of Thompson sparked a manhunt for the suspected shooter, who appeared to target the healthcare CEO specifically. The killing sparked a wave of sympathy for the shooter from Americans who are sick of the United States’ private insurer-dominated health care system. Multiple people on X and Bluesky shared horror stories about times Thompson’s company had denied them coverage for medically necessary treatments.
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Sources
Luigi Mangione: What we know about CEO shooting suspect. BBC
