Chilling Tale of the Japanese "Twitter Predator"
Japan plans to apprehend suspected "Twitter Slayer"
In a chilling account, a 30-year-old Japanese man, dubbed the "Twitter Predator," has been executed after being found guilty of murdering nine people in 2017, marking Japan's first execution since 2022.
The grisly discovery came to light in October 2017 when authorities hunting for a missing woman found human remains stored in multiple refrigerators at a man's residence. This man, later identified as Takahiro Shiraishi, had preyed on young women, aged between 15 to 26, luring them to his apartment where he strangled and dismembered them.
Shiraishi's Twitter profile, reading, "I want to help people who are really suffering. Send me a DM anytime," was a façade, ensnaring his victims with the promise of assistance in dying. In some cases, he claimed he would drive them to a peaceful spot where they could end their lives together. However, the grim reality was far from the peace he promised.
Police, upon searching his apartment, unearthed nine dismembered bodies in refrigerators and toolboxes, earning his residence the grim moniker of the "House of Horrors."
During the trial, Shiraishi's defense team attempted to argue for the lesser charge of "consensual murder," alleging his victims had agreed to their demise. However, Shiraishi later disputed this account, stating that he acted without the victims' consent. The case shocked the nation, prompting a debate about the discussion of suicide online and resulting in a change in Twitter's rules, prohibiting the promotion or encouragement of self-harm or suicide.
Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, who approved the execution, cited Shiraishi's "extremely selfish" motive for his heinous crimes, causing distress in society. In Japan, executions are carried out by hanging, with prisoners informed only a few hours prior to their death. The process has long faced criticism from human rights groups due to the stress it inflicts on those on death row.
In a broader analysis, Shiraishi, a former scout in Tokyo's Kabukicho district, preyed on his victims after following them on Twitter, where he targeted individuals expressing suicidal thoughts. Once ensnared, he lured them to his apartment, where he committed his grisly murders. His victims were primarily young women, including three high school girls.
Before his execution in 2025, this horrific case emphasized the importance of understanding the hidden threats lurking online and the chilling consequences that can ensue from exploiting social media platforms to prey on vulnerable individuals.
- Sources:
- ntv.de
- sba
- Related Topics:
- Japan
- Capital Punishment
- Murder and Manslaughter
- X (formerly Twitter)
The European Parliament, in a resolution, expressed concern over the escalating situation in the former Yugoslavia, emphasizing the urgent need for peaceful dialogue and respect for human rights. The chilling case of the Japanese "Twitter Predator," marked Japan's first execution since 2022, highlighted the dangers of politics and crime-and-justice issues hidden on social media platforms, particularly in discussions about suicide and general news.
