Latest posts by MRPMWoodman (see all)
- Data Entry - 21.09.2025
- Free【世界逆転宣言！Music Video】/ 世界逆転宣言！ Sekai Gyakuten Sengen 2025 - 20.09.2025
- Free Images cosplay cosplayer maou-chan maou 2025 - 09.09.2025
Japan executes ‘Twitter killer’ who murdered nine
Tokyo, Japan – On June 27, 2025, Japan carried out its first execution in nearly three years, putting to death Takahiro Shiraishi, a man infamously known as the “Twitter Killer.” The 34-year-old was hanged at the Tokyo Detention House for the brutal murders of nine individuals—eight women and one man—committed in 2017 in his apartment in Zama, a city in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo. The case, which shocked Japan and sparked widespread debate about online safety, mental health, and the use of capital punishment, remains one of the country’s most chilling serial killing sprees.
A Grisly Discovery in Zama
The horrific crimes came to light in October 2017, when police, investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman, traced her final communications to Shiraishi’s Twitter account. The woman had posted about her suicidal thoughts on the social media platform, then known as Twitter (now X), and her brother, accessing her account, uncovered messages that led authorities to Shiraishi’s apartment. What they found was described by Japanese media as a “house of horrors.” Inside, investigators discovered nine dismembered bodies stored in coolers and toolboxes, some sprinkled with cat litter in a futile attempt to mask the smell and conceal the evidence. The victims’ remains included human heads and bones, with flesh scraped off, and some body parts were later found discarded in a nearby garbage dump.
The victims, aged between 15 and 26, were primarily young women, including three teenage girls. Shiraishi also killed one man, the boyfriend of a female victim, to silence him after he confronted Shiraishi about her disappearance. The methodical nature of the killings, coupled with the grotesque storage of remains, horrified the nation and drew international attention to the case.
The “Twitter Killer” and His Modus Operandi
Takahiro Shiraishi, born on October 9, 1990, was a seemingly unremarkable man who had worked as a scout in Tokyo’s Kabukichō district, a notorious red-light area, luring women into the sex industry. Described by some as a “creepy scout,” he had a history of unsettling behavior, including engaging in choking games with school friends, a detail that later took on grim significance given the strangulation of his victims.
Shiraishi’s crimes were facilitated by his calculated use of social media. Operating under the Twitter handle “
@hangingpro
,” he presented himself as a compassionate figure, offering to help those struggling with suicidal thoughts. His profile featured a manga-style cartoon of a scarred man with a rope around his neck, and his bio read, “I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM me anytime.” He specifically targeted users who expressed a desire to end their lives, promising to assist them in dying or even claiming he would kill himself alongside them. In reality, his motives were far darker, driven by what Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki later described as “extremely selfish” desires for sexual and financial gratification.Shiraishi’s approach was chillingly manipulative. He advised his victims to sever ties with friends and family before meeting him, ensuring they would not be immediately missed. Once lured to his small apartment in Zama, the victims were strangled, and in many cases, sexually assaulted before their bodies were dismembered. The killings took place over a mere two months, from August to October 2017, highlighting the rapid and predatory nature of his actions.
The Investigation and Arrest
The breakthrough in the case came when the brother of the missing 23-year-old woman gained access to her Twitter account and identified Shiraishi as a suspicious contact. Police moved swiftly, raiding his apartment on October 31, 2017. The gruesome discovery of the remains shocked even seasoned investigators. Three cooler boxes and five containers held the dismembered bodies, with some parts meticulously stripped of flesh. The scale of the crime, committed in such a confined space, stunned the public and raised questions about how such acts went undetected for so long.
Shiraishi was arrested and, during interrogations, admitted to all nine murders. He confessed to targeting vulnerable individuals who had expressed suicidal ideation, stating that they were “easier to manipulate” due to their emotional state. His candid admissions, coupled with the horrific details of the case, fueled public outrage and prompted a national reckoning over the dangers lurking on social media platforms.
The Trial and Sentencing
Shiraishi’s trial began in 2020 and drew significant public attention, with over 400 people vying for just 16 public seats at the verdict hearing on December 15, 2020. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, arguing that the premeditated and brutal nature of the crimes warranted the ultimate punishment. They detailed how Shiraishi had raped, robbed, and murdered his victims, mutilating their bodies to cover his tracks.
Shiraishi’s defense team attempted to argue for a lesser charge of “murder with consent,” claiming that the victims, having expressed suicidal thoughts, had agreed to their deaths. They also requested a mental health evaluation, suggesting that Shiraishi’s actions might be linked to psychological issues. However, Shiraishi himself contradicted this defense, admitting in court that he had killed without the victims’ consent and that his actions were driven by sexual desires.
The judge, Naokuni Yano, dismissed the defense’s arguments, calling the crimes “cunning and cruel” and holding Shiraishi “fully responsible” for his actions. The court found no evidence of consent, silent or otherwise, and sentenced him to death.
Shiraishi announced he would not appeal the sentence, and it was finalized in January 2021. The swiftness of his decision not to contest the ruling was unusual in Japan, where death row inmates often spend years in solitary confinement awaiting execution.
Execution and Secrecy
On June 27, 2025, Shiraishi was executed by hanging, the standard method of capital punishment in Japan. The execution was carried out in secrecy, a longstanding practice in the country where inmates are informed of their fate only hours before the act. Families and lawyers are typically notified only after the execution is complete, a policy criticized by human rights groups for the psychological toll it takes on prisoners. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, who authorized the execution, defended the decision, citing the severity of Shiraishi’s crimes and their impact on society. “This case caused extremely serious outcomes and dealt a major shockwave and unease to the society,” Suzuki said at an emergency press conference. He emphasized that Shiraishi’s motives—sexual and financial gain—were “extremely selfish” and that the execution was ordered after careful consideration.
The execution marked Japan’s first use of the death penalty since July 2022, when Tomohiro Kato was hanged for a 2008 attack in Tokyo’s Akihabara district that killed seven people. As of June 2025, Japan has 105 inmates on death row, with nearly half seeking retrials, according to Suzuki. The country’s legal system requires executions to be carried out within six months of a finalized verdict, but in practice, inmates often wait years, sometimes decades, in solitary confinement, a practice that has drawn international criticism for its harshness.
Public Reaction and Debate
The “Twitter Killer” case sent shockwaves through Japan, a nation with a relatively low crime rate but a history of occasional high-profile mass killings. The murders prompted a broader conversation about mental health, online safety, and the role of social media platforms in protecting vulnerable users. Twitter, now known as X, responded to the case by amending its rules to prohibit users from promoting or encouraging suicide or self-harm. Then-CEO Jack Dorsey called the case “extremely sad” and emphasized the need for better safeguards on the platform. The Japanese government also expanded telephone and online support services for individuals contemplating suicide, acknowledging the country’s high suicide rate, which ranks among the world’s highest.
Public sentiment toward Shiraishi’s execution was mixed. A 2024 government survey of 1,800 respondents found that 83% viewed the death penalty as “unavoidable,” reflecting strong public support for capital punishment in Japan. However, the case also reignited debate about the practice, particularly in light of the 2024 acquittal of Iwao Hakamada, who spent over 45 years on death row before being exonerated due to fabricated evidence and a forced confession. Hakamada’s case highlighted flaws in Japan’s criminal justice system, including the risk of “hostage justice” through prolonged interrogations that can lead to false confessions.
The father of one of Shiraishi’s victims, a 25-year-old woman, expressed complex emotions about the execution. Speaking to NHK, he said he would have preferred Shiraishi to “spend his life reflecting on the crimes he committed, than simply losing it through death penalty.” His statement underscored the pain felt by the victims’ families, whose identities have been withheld to protect their privacy.
Japan’s Death Penalty in Context
Japan and the United States are the only two G7 nations that retain capital punishment, and Japan’s use of the death penalty is often reserved for cases involving multiple murders. High-profile executions in recent years include the 2018 hanging of Shoko Asahara and 12 members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack that killed 14 people. Despite international criticism from human rights groups, who argue that the secrecy surrounding executions and the prolonged solitary confinement of death row inmates are inhumane, Japan’s government has defended the practice, citing public support and the need to deter serious crime.
The Shiraishi case has added fuel to the ongoing debate about capital punishment. While some see it as a necessary response to heinous crimes, others argue that the system’s lack of transparency and the risk of wrongful convictions—exemplified by the Hakamada case—call for reform or abolition. The execution of Shiraishi, while closing a dark chapter, has left lingering questions about justice, retribution, and the vulnerabilities exposed by his crimes.
A Lasting Impact
The “Twitter Killer” case remains a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk in online spaces, particularly for those in vulnerable mental states. Shiraishi’s ability to exploit social media to target and manipulate his victims underscored the need for better oversight and education about online safety. The case also highlighted Japan’s ongoing struggle with mental health, as the country grapples with a high suicide rate exacerbated by factors like the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the families of the nine victims, the execution may bring a sense of closure, but the pain of their loss endures. The father of one victim told NHK, “Even now, when I see a woman of my daughter’s age, I mistake her for my daughter.” His words capture the enduring grief caused by Shiraishi’s actions, which not only took nine lives but also shattered the lives of those left behind.
For the families of the nine victims, the execution may bring a sense of closure, but the pain of their loss endures. The father of one victim told NHK, “Even now, when I see a woman of my daughter’s age, I mistake her for my daughter.” His words capture the enduring grief caused by Shiraishi’s actions, which not only took nine lives but also shattered the lives of those left behind.
As Japan moves forward, the legacy of the “Twitter Killer” case will likely continue to shape discussions about justice, technology, and societal responsibility. For now, the execution of Takahiro Shiraishi marks the end of a gruesome saga, but its echoes will resonate in the nation’s collective memory for years to come.
Paul (Poison Fish) Manjyu Woodman
