Japan: ‘Twitter Killer’ Executed for 2011 Murders
- Japan has resumed capital punishment, executing Takahiro Shiraishi, 34, on Friday, according to reports from NHK and other news outlets.
- Shiraishi, dubbed the "Twitter killer," received a death sentance for the 2017 murders of nine individuals.
- He admitted to killing and dismembering the victims in his apartment near Tokyo. Shiraishi contacted individuals expressing suicidal thoughts, offering to assist them in dying, before murdering them...
Japan has executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the ”Twitter killer,” ending a moratorium on capital punishment, making this the first execution since 2022. The heinous crimes committed by Shiraishi in 2017 involved the murder and dismemberment of nine individuals, primarily those he contacted via social media platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter, offering assistance with suicidal ideation. The execution underscores Japan’s commitment to the death penalty, with public support remaining high. News Directory 3 provides thorough coverage of this unfolding story. This tragic event reignites discussions surrounding transparency and the mental health of death row inmates. The execution, carried out on June 27, 2025, has sent shockwaves across the nation.Discover what’s next as the debate continues.
japan Executes “Twitter Killer,” Ending Death Penalty Hiatus
Japan has resumed capital punishment, executing Takahiro Shiraishi, 34, on Friday, according to reports from NHK and other news outlets. This marks the first execution in the country since 2022. The Justice Ministry has not confirmed the execution.
Shiraishi, dubbed the “Twitter killer,” received a death sentance for the 2017 murders of nine individuals. He lured his victims, primarily young women between 15 and 26, through the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
He admitted to killing and dismembering the victims in his apartment near Tokyo. Shiraishi contacted individuals expressing suicidal thoughts, offering to assist them in dying, before murdering them and storing body parts in coolers, media reports said.
Japan, along with the United States, stands as one of the few G7 nations to maintain the death penalty. A 2024 government survey indicated that 83% of Japanese respondents consider capital punishment “unavoidable.”
In 2022, Tomohiro Kato was executed for a 2008 rampage in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, where he killed seven people. As of December 2023, the Justice Ministry reported 107 prisoners on death row.
Japanese law mandates executions within six months of a final verdict.However, inmates often spend years in solitary confinement, facing mental health challenges. Critics cite a lack of transparency in the system, with inmates typically notified of their execution shortly before it occurs.
The executions of Shoko Asahara and 12 members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on Tokyo’s subway, took place in 2018.
What’s next
The debate surrounding capital punishment in Japan is expected to continue, focusing on transparency and the mental health of death row inmates.