A Japanese court has sentenced a 44-year-old man to 16 years in prison after he fatally stabbed a young livestreamer in a shocking attack that unfolded in front of thousands of online viewers.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Japan, not only because the killing was broadcast live, but also due to allegations that the victim had borrowed large sums of money from the accused over several years.
According to court proceedings, Kenichi Takano, from Tochigi Prefecture, first came across 22-year-old livestreamer Airi Sato in December 2021. After becoming a regular supporter of her online broadcasts, he eventually met her in person and began sending her money.
Life Savings Reportedly Drained
Court testimony revealed that requests for financial help started soon after they met. The reasons reportedly ranged from replacing a forgotten bag to covering expensive purchases, including champagne she allegedly claimed she had been pressured to buy.
Within just three weeks, Takano had transferred approximately 1.5 million yen to Sato through 11 separate transactions.
Over time, he continued spending money on online donations, direct loans and visits to the hostess bar where she worked. By the time the payments stopped, prosecutors said he had exhausted his entire life savings, estimated at around US$30,000 (approximately S$38,000).
The court also heard that Sato later allegedly persuaded Takano to borrow money on her behalf. She reportedly claimed she needed funds for an apartment and even sent him images suggesting she was suffering from cancer.
Despite being unemployed, Takano obtained loans from two consumer finance companies before transferring the borrowed money to her.
Civil Lawsuit Ended With Almost Nothing Recovered
As his debts mounted, Takano repeatedly pleaded with Sato to return the money.
One message presented during the trial reportedly read: “Help me. Help me. I’m going to get sued.”
According to court records, Sato allegedly replied simply: “Eh, impossible.”
Unable to recover the money privately, Takano filed a civil lawsuit and won. However, when authorities seized Sato’s bank account to enforce the judgment, it reportedly contained only 160 yen — roughly S$1.40.
The failed attempt to recover the money became a significant factor discussed during the trial.
Attack Took Place During Livestream
In March 2025, Takano reportedly located Sato by following the location shown during one of her livestreams.
He confronted her on a street in Tokyo before stabbing her 55 times. The attack unfolded live online, with around 6,000 viewers reportedly watching the broadcast before it ended.
During sentencing, the judge described the killing as exceptionally violent and deserving of severe punishment. However, the court also acknowledged that Takano believed he had been financially exploited over an extended period.
Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison sentence, while the defence argued for nine years.
The court ultimately sentenced Takano to 16 years’ imprisonment, concluding one of Japan’s most disturbing cases involving online influencers, financial exploitation allegations and violent crime.