Japan carried out its first execution in nearly three years by hanging Takahiro Shiraishi, 34, known as the “Twitter killer,” at the Tokyo Detention House. Shiraishi was convicted in 2020 of murdering and dismembering nine people, eight of them women.
His crimes shocked the nation and drew widespread attention, both for their gruesome nature and for how he used social media to prey on vulnerable individuals. The execution, conducted on a Friday, brings formal closure to one of Japan’s most disturbing modern criminal cases.
Shiraishi Lured Suicidal Victims Through Social Media, Committed Gruesome Murders at Home
Shiraishi’s arrest in October 2017 followed the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman who had posted suicidal thoughts on social media, including Twitter (now X). When police searched Shiraishi’s home in Zama, Kanagawa prefecture, they made a horrifying discovery: multiple containers and cooler boxes filled with human remains.
These included human heads and bones with flesh removed, indicating the severity and calculated nature of the crimes.
Investigations revealed that Shiraishi used social media platforms to target individuals who had expressed a desire to die. Using a username that translated to “hangman,” he promised to assist these individuals in ending their lives, luring them to his apartment. The victims, aged between 15 and 26, were all contacted via these platforms before being murdered. During his trial, Shiraishi admitted he killed the victims to fulfill his own sexual urges.
Final Sentence Delivered Amid Mixed Reactions and Japan’s Secretive Capital Punishment Practices
In December 2020, Shiraishi was found guilty of murder, rape, and dismemberment. Although his lawyer initially appealed the ruling, the appeal was later withdrawn, and the death sentence became final.
Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki emphasized that the case involved grave crimes committed for selfish motives such as sexual and financial satisfaction, and acknowledged the deep emotional toll it had taken on the victims’ families and the broader society.
Reactions to the execution were mixed, with one victim’s father expressing a preference that Shiraishi live out his life in prison, reflecting on his actions. Shiraishi’s hanging was the first execution in Japan since July 2022, highlighting the country’s secretive approach to capital punishment.
Execution dates are not announced beforehand, and notifications are typically given only after the fact, preserving the system’s discreet and often controversial nature. Justice Minister Suzuki affirmed that the decision was made after careful deliberation of all circumstances.
