Suspected killer of Japanese live-streamer wanted world to know she owed him US$13,000

The statement by the suspect, Kenichi Takano, came after he was arrested on Tuesday over the killing of 22-year-old Airi Sato in a residential area of Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s busiest wards. He claimed she owed him over 2 million yen (US$13,000).

“I thought the world would know what she had done if I created an incident and a trial was held,” he was quoted as telling investigators, the sources said.

Takano said that he had taken out 1 million yen in loans from two consumer credit companies to lend Sato, the sources said. He was sent to prosecutors on Thursday on a charge of murder.

During a search of his home in Oyama, Tochigi prefecture, police seized more than 10 receipts for bank transfers, some of which were to Sato.

Takano approached Sato while she was walking alone and started stabbing her without saying a word, the sources said. In all, he inflicted more than 30 injuries including fatal wounds to her neck and chest, according to the police.