Japan Executes ‘Twitter Killer’ Takahiro Shiraishi for Nine Murders

Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the ‘Twitter killer,’ has been executed in Japan, marking the country’s first use of capital punishment in nearly three years. Shiraishi, 34, was hanged at the Tokyo Detention House on Friday, four years after being sentenced to death for the murder and dismemberment of nine people.

Shiraishi was arrested in October 2017 following an investigation into the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman who had expressed suicidal thoughts online. Police discovered human remains, including heads and bones, in cooler boxes and containers at his Zama apartment in Kanagawa prefecture. The victims, aged 15 to 26, had posted suicidal thoughts on social media, prompting Shiraishi to contact them under a handle loosely translating to ‘hangman,’ promising assistance in dying.

During his trial, Shiraishi pleaded guilty, stating he committed the murders to satisfy his own sexual desires. He was convicted in December 2020 for murdering, raping, and dismembering the victims, then storing their bodies. His appeal was later withdrawn, finalizing his death sentence. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki confirmed the execution, noting the case’s profound impact on society. This execution is the first in Japan since July 2022, with the country’s capital punishment system known for its secrecy regarding execution dates.

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