Kenichi Takano, a 44-year-old man from Japan, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing 22-year-old streamer Airi Sato during a livestream in Tokyo. The Tokyo District Court handed down the sentence on July 15, 2026, after finding him guilty of murder and related charges. Takano admitted carrying out the attack. Sato was broadcasting live on the Japanese streaming platform WhoWatch when she was attacked in public. The case has drawn worldwide attention because thousands of viewers witnessed part of the incident as it happened.
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Kenichi Takano admitted attacking Airi Sato while she was livestreaming in Tokyo
The attack happened on March 11, 2025, in Tokyo’s Takadanobaba area in Shinjuku Ward. Airi Sato was walking through the street while doing an IRL, or “in real life,” livestream on WhoWatch.
According to prosecutors, Takano attacked her with a knife and stabbed her at least 55 times, with most of the injuries to her face, neck and chest.
More than 6,000 people were watching the livestream when the attack began. Viewers heard Sato scream before the camera suddenly went dark.
Emergency sirens could later be heard on the stream. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
During the trial, prosecutors said the attack lasted around a minute and continued even as Sato pleaded with Takano to stop.
They also told the court that after the attack, Takano used his phone to film her face and made comments about whether she had died.
The judges said those actions showed a disregard for the victim’s dignity. Takano admitted the charges during the court proceedings.
