Japan Executes 'Twitter Killer' Takahiro Shiraishi for Gruesome Serial Murders

In a chilling conclusion to one of Japan’s most disturbing criminal cases, Takahiro Shiraishi, infamously dubbed the “Twitter Killer,” was executed on Friday at the Tokyo Detention House. The 34-year-old was convicted of murdering and dismembering nine people, including eight women and one man, in a gruesome killing spree that shocked the nation and triggered renewed scrutiny on how social media platforms are used to prey on vulnerable individuals. Shiraishi's method involved targeting individuals who had expressed suicidal thoughts on X (formerly Twitter). Using the handle “hangman,” he offered to help them die, gaining their trust before luring them to his apartment in Zama city, Kanagawa prefecture, just outside Tokyo. Once inside his flat, Shiraishi murdered his victims, raped some of them, dismembered their bodies, and stored body parts in toolboxes and coolers, often layered with cat litter to mask the smell. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 26, each having shown signs of mental distress or suicidal ideation prior to their deaths. The case first came to light in October 2017 when police began investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman who had posted suicidal messages online. Her brother, concerned about her safety, accessed her social media accounts and worked with police to track her last known interactions. This led to the grim discovery of dismembered body parts in Shiraishi’s apartment, exposing a horrifying sequence of premeditated murders that had gone undetected for months. The arrest of Shiraishi and subsequent details of his crimes sent shockwaves across Japan and internationally. During the trial, prosecutors detailed how Shiraishi stalked online platforms for emotionally vulnerable individuals and then used psychological manipulation to lure them to their deaths. His apartment was described as a “house of horrors,” filled with remains and chilling evidence of his crimes. Shiraishi admitted to the killings and said he had no intention of helping anyone die peacefully. Instead, he sought to satisfy his own dark desires, including domination and control. He confessed to killing his victims within days of meeting them and admitted to sexually assaulting many of them, even postmortem. In December 2020, Shiraishi was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. His defense attorneys tried to argue that the murders were committed with the victims’ consent, thereby qualifying for a lesser charge of “murder with consent.” They also sought a mental health evaluation, questioning Shiraishi’s sanity. However, the court found him fully responsible, noting that he was capable of distinguishing right from wrong and had deliberately planned each murder. The execution was signed off by Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, who said Shiraishi’s crimes were “extremely selfish” and caused “great shock and unrest to society.” The minister added that the decision to proceed with the hanging was made with careful consideration of the nature of the crimes and their broader impact. Japan is one of the few developed nations that retains the death penalty, and executions are carried out by hanging. In keeping with Japanese policy, Shiraishi’s execution was kept secret until it was completed. The families of the victims and his attorneys were not informed in advance. This practice, often criticized by international human rights groups, is intended to reduce psychological pressure on inmates but also raises ethical questions about transparency. Shiraishi's execution marks the latest in a series of death penalty cases in Japan involving high-profile murderers. Prior to him, Tomohiro Kato was executed in 2022 for a deadly 2008 attack in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, where he killed seven people by ramming a truck into a crowd and then stabbing bystanders. Both cases have reignited debate over capital punishment in Japan and whether more needs to be done to monitor potential killers online before they act. The “Twitter Killer” case, in particular, has spotlighted the dark side of social media, where troubled individuals are often vulnerable to exploitation. It has prompted calls for stricter monitoring of suicide-related posts and more robust intervention mechanisms by both social platforms and government agencies. In the years since the murders, Japan has introduced some suicide prevention initiatives, but experts say more must be done to ensure online spaces are not used as hunting grounds for predators like Shiraishi. For the families of the victims, the execution brings a sense of closure but no true relief. The trauma and loss inflicted by Shiraishi’s actions remain profound, and his death, while delivering justice, cannot erase the pain endured by those left behind. His execution serves as a grim reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, responsible use of social media, and the ever-present need for vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable lives from those who would exploit them.