A young female online influencer in Japan was killed in a violent attack while she was broadcasting on a Tokyo street. A man named Kenji Takano, identified by the police as a follower with a grudge, was charged with her murder.

Passers-by heard Airi Sato, 22, screaming for help as her livestream went dark and the sounds of sirens could be heard in the background. Her audience expressed worried reactions and pleas for help on social media.

Takano admitted to carrying out the attack with a survival knife, stabbing Sato in the head, neck, and torso while she was filming. Despite efforts to revive her, Sato passed away after arriving at the hospital.

While violent crimes are uncommon in Tokyo, police believe that this incident was not a random act. Takano had lent Sato a large sum of money that she failed to repay, leading to his grudge against her. He tracked her down by recognizing the buildings in her livestreams.

This is not the first instance of a female streamer being killed in Japan. Two years ago, a man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for stabbing a 33-year-old influencer who had ended their relationship.

Source: The New York Times

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/world/asia/japan-influencer-stabbed-livestreaming.html