BJ Brutally Murdered While Live Streaming To Thousands — Public Sympathizes With Killer Instead
Recently, the Korean program From One to Ten took a look at surprising cases from around the world, including one involving the murder of a BJ (broadcast jockey).
In March 2025, 22-year-old Airi Sato (known as Mogami Ai) was livestreaming her walk along the Yamanote Line in Tokyo’s Takadanobaba district when a man confronted her. Streamers heard passers-by screaming for help before her livestream went dark, to the sounds of emergency vehicle sirens.
The man, 44-year-old Kenji Takano (Kenichi Takano in some sources), reportedly stabbed Airi Sato at least 30 times in her head and neck, ultimately resulting in her death after she arrived at the hospital.
The violent killing initially shocked many with its apparent random nature, but investigations proved it was not a random attack.
Instead, Kenji Tanako admitted to the attack, which he accomplished by tracking her location during the stream, and was revealed to have been a fan. According to police, the man held a grudge against Airi Sato over unpaid borrowed funds.
In the time after the murder, it was discovered that Kenji Tanako had become a fan of the young woman in 2021, when she was around 18. Airi Sato reportedly began asking for money not long after, providing various reasons for borrowing but promising to repay.
Kenji Tanako took the young woman to civil court in 2023 over the 2.5 million yen (around 16,000 USD) he claimed to have given her, and won the case. However, no money was repaid, and he was no longer able to contact her.
After these facts came to light, along with some unconfirmed ones, including that Kenji Tanako had schizophrenia and was considered mentally disabled, it led to sympathy towards him. A viral post, which garnered over 38,000 likes and nearly a million views, reflected this, portraying him more as a victim.
I feel sorry for the old dude who killed Mogami Ai. Laughing after you tricked a disabled man in his 50s [note: incorrect age] out of 2.5 million yen. From his perspective, he probably thought he couldn’t get on with his life except by killing her. She lost in court and ignored an order to repay him. That makes Mogami Ai the aggressor. She brought it on herself.
— Post
— モス (@geibideo2) March 15, 2025
While the frustration over a debt is understandable, it was not enough to warrant her being killed.
As of writing, Tanako has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
