Japan executes Twitter killer for dismembering nine victims

In Japan, Takahiro Shiraishi, convicted as the 'Twitter Killer,' was executed on June 27, 2025, nearly three years after his sentencing in December 2020. Shiraishi's heinous crimes took place in 2017, during which he murdered nine individuals—eight women and one man—who were lured to his apartment near Tokyo under false pretenses. Most of his victims had expressed suicidal thoughts online, making them vulnerable to his manipulative tactics. Shiraishi approached them via Twitter, promising to help them die in a pact, only to subsequently kill and dismember them. Police discovered the remains of his victims in cold-storage cases in his apartment as authorities investigated a missing person's report concerning one of the women, prompting Shiraishi's arrest that same year. The case shocked Japanese society, sparking fervent discussions on mental health and capital punishment. In Japan, suicide rates are comparatively high, exacerbated by social stigma surrounding mental health issues. The public's reaction to Shiraishi's execution reflects a broader national discourse on the death penalty, particularly following the recent acquittal of Iwao Hakamada, the world's longest-serving death-row inmate. Hakamada's exoneration raised serious questions regarding the reliability of the criminal justice system in Japan. Despite growing calls for the abolition of capital punishment, particularly in light of potentially wrongful convictions, surveys indicate strong public support for maintaining it, especially in response to serious crimes like those committed by Shiraishi. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki justified the execution, emphasizing the serious societal impact of Shiraishi's actions and the need for capital punishment in certain circumstances. He pointed out that the execution was conducted in secrecy, a common practice in Japan, where death-row inmates typically learn of their execution only on the day it occurs. Shiraishi's execution marked the first since the execution of a man convicted of killing seven in a stabbing rampage in 2022. Japan retains the death penalty while standing as one of the few industrialized nations in the Group of Seven to do so, indicating a contrasting approach to criminality and punishment relative to international standards. As Japan navigates these complex issues, the case of Shiraishi exemplifies the profound consequences of crime on mental health, societal safety, and the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment. It underscores the complexities of addressing mental health crises and the potential vulnerabilities exploited by individuals like Shiraishi. The broader implications speak to a need for systemic change in Japan's approach to mental health, crime prevention, and its legal philosophies surrounding punishment.