Who was Airi Sato? YouTuber stabbed to death during her livestream in Tokyo

Airi Sato, a 22-year-old YouTuber, was viciously stabbed to death while live streaming on the streets of Tokyo. Her viewers were shocked by the tragedy that unfolded in real-time. Her viewers heard her frantic shouts before the live stream abruptly stopped.

Her alleged killer, Kenji Takano, a 42-year-old male, was arrested at the scene. He had allegedly tracked her down using landmarks in her livestream.

Sato was a creator with huge potential who had built and amassed a fan following on YouTube and WhoWatch, where she shared her daily life. She was able to really connect with her audience as she was charismatic and had a cheerful demeanor.

Authorities have now disclosed that she and Takano had been involved in a financial dispute that started in 2022. They had known each other since 2021. Sato reportedly failed to repay Takano's loan of more than 2 million yen(about $13,500) despite a court order. Although the exact nature of their relationship is yet unknown, authorities do not think the attack was random.

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The attack on Airi Sato

The deadly attack happened early on March 11, 2025, in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, a busy neighborhood where Airi Sato was strolling by herself and livestreaming. Everything was going well, like all her streams usually did, until she started screaming, and the noise was also heard.

Later, witnesses claimed to have seen a guy wearing a black hat lunge at Sato and repeatedly stab her. After seeing her livestream, Takano reportedly went over 60 kilometers from Oyama to Tokyo, using her background as clues to search for her, according to police. He was caught with two knives and was still present at the site.

Airi Sato's neck and chest sustained many deep knife wounds. According to reports, she was stabbed 30 times. Even though she was taken to the hospital right after, she was declared dead not long after. Takano was apprehended right away. He acknowledged the attack during the first round of interrogation, but he insisted he had no intention of killing her.

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Concerns over influencer safety have increased in light of Airi Sato's shocking passing, particularly for those who inadvertently broadcast their positions in real time. Her fans and the internet are still in shock at what has happened. Messages expressing sorrow are all over the internet, along with calls for stricter laws to shield public figures from any incidents like these in the future.