Japan Executes 'Twitter Killer' Takahiro Shiraishi

Japan has executed Takahiro Shiraishi, known as the 'Twitter killer,' in the nation's first use of capital punishment since 2022. Shiraishi was convicted in 2020 of raping, murdering, and dismembering nine people—eight women, including three teenagers, and one man—after luring them via Twitter with offers to help with their suicidal thoughts. The crimes were discovered in 2017 when police found body parts stored in coolers and boxes in his Zama apartment while investigating a missing woman. The court dismissed his lawyers' claims that the victims had consented to die, emphasizing his sexual and financial motives. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki stated that such brutal crimes reinforce public support for Japan’s secretive death penalty system, despite international criticism over transparency. The case has also raised concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals online.