Influencer Fatally Stabbed During Live Stream in Tokyo; Suspect Arrested

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A 22-year-old Japanese influencer, Airi Sato, was fatally stabbed while livestreaming on a busy street in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo on March 11, 2025. Kenji Takano, 42, was arrested on March 14 on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly inflicting over 30 stab wounds to Sato, who was later pronounced dead in hospital, Tokyo metropolitan police reported.

Witnesses reported hearing Sato scream for help just before her livestream abruptly ended, with viewers expressing concern in the chat. According to The New York Times, Takano allegedly had a financial dispute with Sato, having loaned her approximately 2.5 million yen (about $23,000) that she reportedly failed to repay, despite a court order.

Takano reportedly confessed to the attack, claiming he did not intend to kill Sato. He traveled from Oyama, around 100 kilometers north of Tokyo, using live-streaming footage to track her location. Japan generally experiences low violent crime rates, but a rise in knife attacks has been noted in recent years.

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