Sayonara to the Japanese "Twitter Slayer": Serial Killer Executed Following Brutal Spree of Sexual, Financial Greed
Japan carries out death penalty for the so-called 'Twitter Killer', marking the country's first execution in years. - Japan carries out justice on the "Twitter killer," a rare instance of capital punishment in recent times.
Japan ended a three-year hiatus from executions this morning. The notorious "Twitter Slayer," known as Takahiro Shiraishi, met his demise at a Tokyo detention center as confirmed by Japan's Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki.
At 34, this chilling serial killer shook Japan's sociopolitical landscape in 2020. He received a death sentence for the brutal murders of nine young people, with charges also leveled against him for robbery and sexual abuse of his victims. It's been three years since Japan's last execution, according to broadcaster NHK.
The Twitter Playground: Criminal's Cruel Catch
Shiraishi prowled Twitter (now labeled X), stalking vulnerable users who broadcasted suicidal thoughts. He lured eight ladies aged between 15 and 26, plus one male companion of a victim, to his Tokyo apartment over two grueling months in 2017.
If you find yourself wrestling with suicidal thoughts, don't be alone. Help is available. You can reach out via the emergency hotline at 0 800 / 111 0 111 and 0 800 / 111 0 222. Email counseling is another option. For a comprehensive list of nationwide resources, visit the website of the German Society for Suicide Prevention.
In his apartment, he viciously exploited, strangled, and dismembered the women. Their dismembered body parts were hidden in the bathroom, cold-storage cases, toolboxes, and even tossed into garbage cans. Such heinous acts struck fear and dread throughout Japan, a country popularly known for its low crime rate [1][2][3].
At his sentencing, the judge called Shiraishi's actions "maliciously extreme." The vicious slayings caused an uproar in the society at large, Suzuki stated at a press conference. Shiraishi's actions were driven by his own wicked desires for sexual and financial gratification. Suzuki made the execution order based on careful deliberation of all factors.
Beneath the Mask: Unraveling Japan's Twitter Killer
A closer look at Shiraishi's digital persona revealed his carefully crafted persona. His Twitter bio read, "I want to help people who are truly suffering. Feel free to reach out to me anytime." With this subtle deception, he exploited the vulnerability of his victims, building trust, and reeling them in [1][2][3].
Shiraishi's victims included three teen girls, five women, and one man (the partner of one of the victims, who was unfortunately taken for silence). He murdered them primarily using beatings and strangulation. His twisted crimes continued with sexual abuse and theft.
Shiraishi was arrested in 2017, whereupon he quickly admitted to the murders on October 1, 2020. He was sentenced to death on December 15, 2020, and opted not to contest his verdict. Shiraishi's death sentence was finalized in January 2021. On June 27, 2025, he was hanged, signifying Japan's first use of capital punishment since 2022. Japan remains one of only a handful of G7 countries still enforcing the death penalty, as a majority of its citizens support this measure [1][2][4].
Shiraishi's crimes sparked intense discussions about online safety, the death penalty, and societal flaws in the digital era [1][2][3][4].
The execution of the notorious "Twitter Slayer," Takahiro Shiraishi, in Tokyo, marks a significant event in Japan's justice system, following his brutal serial murders and sexual abuses in 2017. This incident has incited debates about various topics, including online safety, the death penalty, and societal issues, in the realm of war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, crime-and-justice, and even countries like Japan, whose low crime rate was significantly shaken by such heinous acts.
