Japan has officially executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the man infamously dubbed the “Twitter Killer,” bringing one of the country’s most disturbing modern criminal cases to a close.
Shiraishi, 34, was convicted in 2020 of luring, murdering, and dismembering nine victims he met through Twitter, often targeting individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts. The case horrified Japan and stunned the world with its chilling combination of social media manipulation and premeditated violence.
Operating under the guise of offering “assistance” to people considering suicide, Shiraishi used Twitter to gain his victims’ trust—then lured them to his Tokyo apartment, where he committed the murders over a span of three months in 2017.
His arrest and eventual confession triggered national outrage and intense debates about Japan’s death penalty, mental health support, and the dangers lurking in unregulated corners of the internet.
During his trial, Shiraishi admitted to all charges, expressing little remorse. He was sentenced to death in December 2020. After several years on death row, Japan’s Justice Ministry confirmed his execution by hanging earlier this week—an act carried out in secrecy, in line with Japan’s strict and controversial capital punishment system.
Victims’ families say the execution brings some closure, but for many across Japan, the trauma of the case lingers. It has left a lasting imprint on how the nation views online anonymity, mental health vulnerabilities, and the limits of digital trust.
