What Happened to Masumi Watanabe? A Case That Shook Oahu with guest reader Erika Prevost

She Goes by Jane: A True Crime Podcast · Apr 15, 2025 · 54m

At 21 years old, Masumi Watanabe traveled from Japan to Hawaii to gain independence and confidence while staying with family friends. By all accounts, she was thriving.

Just one week before she was scheduled to return home, Masumi disappeared.

Her case quickly became a tragedy that deeply impacted the community on Oahu, raising difficult questions about safety, accountability, and what might have been prevented. A man was later arrested in connection with her death, and the case left a lasting mark both in Hawaii and beyond.

In this episode, we follow Masumi’s time in Hawaii, the events…