The father of Lucie Blackman is due to fly to Japan for the start of the defence case in the trial of the man accused of killing her.
Lucie Blackman's body was found seven months after her death
Tim Blackman, 52, from the Isle of Wight, will attend court hearings in Tokyo on Wednesday and Friday.
Businessman Joji Obara, 52, went on trial in November 2003 but denies abduction, rape and manslaughter.
Ms Blackman, from Sevenoaks in Kent, vanished in July 2000 and her body was found seven months later.
The 21-year-old former flight attendant had been working at a nightclub in the Roppongi district of Tokyo.
Her dismembered body was found in a cave in the fishing village of Miura.
The location was just 100 yards from Mr Obara's apartment.
He denies abduction, rape resulting in death and a charge of disposing of Ms Blackman's body.
Mr Blackman said the trial, which is due to run until 2007, was an ordeal for the entire family.
"You can't get any form of closure when you have to dive back into the trauma at the centre of the disaster," he said.