Japan has executed Takahiro Shiraishi, infamously known as the "Twitter killer," marking the country’s first use of capital punishment in nearly three years. Shiraishi was hanged on June 27, 2025, at the Tokyo Detention House after being sentenced to death in 2020 for the brutal murders of nine people, mostly young women, whom he lured through social media.
Shiraishi’s crimes, committed in 2017, shocked Japan and sparked widespread debate about the dangers of online platforms and the handling of suicide-related content. The victims, aged between 15 and 26, had posted suicidal thoughts on Twitter — now rebranded as X — where Shiraishi approached them under the guise of offering help. Using a handle that loosely translated to "hangman," he contacted these vulnerable individuals, promising assistance in dying, and in some cases, claimed he would kill himself alongside them.
However, instead of providing solace, Shiraishi strangled, raped, and dismembered eight women and one man in his apartment in Zama city, Kanagawa prefecture, near Tokyo. Police discovered the grisly scene in October 2017, finding body parts stored in coolers and containers scattered throughout his small residence. The horrifying details earned the apartment the grim nickname "house of horrors" in media reports.
During his trial, Shiraishi admitted to the murders, openly stating in court that he killed the victims to satisfy his own sexual desires. Prosecutors charged him with multiple offenses, including robbery, rape, murder, destruction of corpses, and abandonment of bodies. His defense team initially argued for a lesser charge of "murder with consent," suggesting the victims had agreed to their deaths and requested a mental health evaluation. However, Shiraishi later contradicted this defense, asserting he acted without their consent.
In December 2020, hundreds gathered at the verdict hearing as Shiraishi was sentenced to death. His appeal was withdrawn, finalizing the sentence. The case deeply unsettled Japanese society, highlighting the dark intersection of social media and mental health vulnerabilities. Twitter, in response, amended its policies to prohibit the promotion or encouragement of suicide or self-harm, aiming to curb similar tragedies.
Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, who authorized the execution, described Shiraishi’s motives as "extremely selfish," driven by sexual and financial gratification. Speaking at a press conference, Suzuki said, "Nine victims were beaten and strangled, killed, robbed, and then mutilated with parts of their bodies concealed in boxes, and parts discarded in a garbage dump." He emphasized the gravity of the case, noting it "caused great shock and anxiety to society."
The execution was carried out in strict secrecy, a common practice in Japan where prisoners are often informed of their execution only hours before it occurs. Families and lawyers typically receive notification only after the fact. This lack of transparency has drawn criticism from human rights groups worldwide, citing the severe psychological toll on death-row inmates who endure prolonged solitary confinement and uncertainty.
Japan and the United States remain the only two Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to retain the death penalty. Public support in Japan remains strong; a 2024 government survey of 1,800 respondents found that 83 percent viewed capital punishment as "unavoidable." Suzuki justified the continuation of the death penalty by pointing to ongoing concerns about violent crime, stating, "It is not appropriate to abolish the death penalty while these violent crimes are still being committed."
The recent execution follows the July 2022 hanging of Tomohiro Kato, who killed seven people in a 2008 stabbing rampage and vehicular attack in Tokyo’s Akihabara district. It also marks the first execution under the government of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, inaugurated in October 2024.
Japan currently has 105 inmates on death row, including 49 seeking retrials. The legal framework stipulates executions should occur within six months of a final verdict after appeals are exhausted. However, in practice, many prisoners remain in solitary confinement for years or even decades, a situation that has sparked domestic and international calls for reform.
The case of Shiraishi also reignited conversations about suicide prevention in Japan, a country with one of the highest suicide rates globally. After a recent decline, suicide numbers have risen again, partly attributed to the lingering social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts argue that while capital punishment addresses the consequences of violent crime, broader societal efforts are needed to tackle underlying mental health issues and the responsible use of social media.
Among Japan’s most high-profile executions was that of Shoko Asahara and 12 former members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult in 2018. The group was responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attacks on Tokyo’s subway system, which killed 14 people and injured thousands. Such cases have reinforced public backing for capital punishment, despite ongoing debates about its ethics and efficacy.
Following the news of Shiraishi’s execution, the father of one of the victims expressed to NHK a preference for the killer to spend his life reflecting on his crimes rather than facing death. This sentiment reflects the complex emotions surrounding the death penalty in Japan, where justice, retribution, and rehabilitation continue to be hotly contested topics.
As Japan moves forward, the Shiraishi case remains a stark reminder of the challenges at the nexus of technology, mental health, and criminal justice. It underscores the urgent need for vigilant social media oversight, comprehensive suicide prevention strategies, and transparent, humane legal processes.
