The Execution of the "Twitter Killer": Japan's Scenterpiece of Capital Punishment
Japan intensifies pursuit of the "Twitter Slayer" suspect
Japan made headlines once more with the execution of the infamous "Twitter Killer" in 2025. Takahiro Shiraishi, a 30-year-old man, was put to death for his heinous crimes against nine innocents. This was Japan's first execution in three years, indicating a pause in enforcing capital punishment.
Shiraishi, known for luring his victims through social media, specifically Twitter, exploiting their vulnerable emotions before committing gruesome acts, shocked Japan with his disturbing methods and the scale of his crimes. Beginning in 2017, he took the lives of eight women and one man, their bodies found dismembered in refrigerators and toolboxes at his Zama apartment, earning him the moniker of the "Twitter Killer."
Facts and Chaos: The House of Horrors
Police investigations led them to Shiraishi after a search for one missing victim uncovered human remains at the alleged murderer's residence. He later admitted to the murders, stating that he had targeted individuals with suicidal thoughts on Twitter and claimed he would assist them in ending their lives. Unbeknown to his victims, this 'help' led to their demise.
During the trial, Shiraishi's lawyers attempted to defend him by arguing his crimes were consensual. Additionally, they urged an evaluation of his mental state. However, Shiraishi contradicted his legal team, stating that his victims did not consent to their deaths. In 2020, as hundreds of people watched, Shiraishi was sentenced to death, igniting controversy and public discussion.
Capital Punishment in Japan: Ancient Roots and Modern Secrets
The history of capital punishment in Japan spans many centuries, exhibiting numerous rituals and methods. Initially, capital punishment was only beheading. However, as the centuries passed, methods became harsher during times of war, with skewering, burning at the stake, and boiling becoming commonplace. The Heian period introduced seppuku, or ritual suicide, while Western influence added crucifixion.
Today, capital punishment is limited to the most serious crimes, and executions are conducted by hanging, often kept secretive, with prisoners notified only a few hours before their scheduled execution. Public disclosure typically comes after the fact. Japan continues to face criticism for this practice due to the stress it causes to those on death row.
In the case of Shiraishi, human rights groups have reiterated their concerns regarding the secrecy surrounding executions. Yet the widespread use of social media and its perceived glamorization of suicide in Japan have added a new dimension to the ongoing debate about capital punishment.
Bibliography
- [1] ntv.de
- [2] sba
- [3] Programming Historian
- [4] CyberSh independently operated news outlet
- [5] J-Cast News
- Japan
- Capital Punishment
- Murder and Manslaughter
- X (formerly Twitter)
- The European Parliament, in its resolution on the general-news topic of the situation in the former Yugoslavia, expressed concern over the continuous rise in crime-and-justice incidents, particularly those involving politics, and urged for the establishment of an independent investigation into the matter.
- Despite Japan's execution of the "Twitter Killer" in 2025 and the resumption of capital punishment, debate still rages on, invoking discussions about the role of social media in the glamorization of crime and the ethics of capital punishment in modern society, paralleling global debates on the situation in the former Yugoslavia.
