Japan Executes 'Twitter Killer' Takahiro Shiraishi for Gruesome Murders

On Friday, Japan executed Takahiro Shiraishi, a man infamously dubbed the 'Twitter Killer' by the media, who was convicted of the brutal murder and dismemberment of nine individuals. Shiraishi, aged 34, lured his victims, eight of whom he knew, through social media, while one was met in a local park. His heinous actions took place between August and October 2017. Using the guise of offering help to those expressing suicidal thoughts, he brought multiple individuals to his apartment in Zama, located approximately fifty kilometers south of Tokyo. Tragically, these encounters led to the drugging, raping, and strangling of his victims, whose bodies he subsequently dismembered. Authorities discovered the remains of eight women and one man, aged between 15 and 26, stored in a chilling state, some in refrigerated containers and others in boxes, after his arrest in October 2017. Shiraishi was formally charged in September 2018 and received a death sentence two years later, which has now been carried out. This execution marks a significant event in Japan, being the first death penalty carried out since 2022 and the first under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's tenure, who took office in October. The case has raised discussions about the role of social media in facilitating such tragic encounters and the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment in Japan. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2