A popular Japanese influencer, Airi Sato, was tragically killed while live streaming to over 6,000 viewers in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district.
The 22-year-old was attacked by a man identified as Kenichi Takano, 42, who stabbed her in the neck, head, and chest.
The horrifying incident happened while Sato was walking along the streets, streaming her daily activities on the Japanese platform WhoWatch.
Shocked fans watched the attack unfold live, with many frantically calling for help in the chat before the stream suddenly went silent.
According to the police, Takano tracked Sato by recognizing the buildings shown in her previous video titled “3.11 Walking Around the Yamanote Line.” The pair reportedly knew each other, with Takano admitting that he had lent Sato about $17,000 since they first connected through her livestreams in 2021.
Takano told the police that Sato often borrowed money from him, claiming she had forgotten her wallet, lost access to her funds, or needed urgent help. Despite his financial support, Sato never repaid him, and Takano eventually took legal action. Although he won the case, the debt remained unpaid.
The police recovered a knife with a five-inch blade at the scene, which they believe was used in the attack. Emergency services arrived shortly after, but Sato was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident sparked confusion online, with some social media users mistakenly identifying the victim as another live streamer, Mogami Ai. This prompted Mogami’s agency to issue a statement confirming her safety and clarifying that she had no connection to the tragic event.
“In the incident that occurred in Takadanobaba today… erroneous information was spread, and our company’s ‘Mogami Ai’ was mistakenly identified. We have confirmed that this misunderstanding exists,” the company said.
They also urged people to stop sending comments and private messages to Mogami about the incident and to refrain from sharing her photos without permission.
Sato, who began creating content in high school, had gained a large following by sharing her daily life and personal experiences online. The shocking attack has left many fans mourning her loss and questioning the safety of public live streaming.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and Takano remains in custody.
