Articles in this Cluster
27-06-2025
Japan executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer,” for murdering nine people in 2017—the country’s first execution since 2022. Shiraishi used Twitter to find mostly young, suicidal women, lured them to his apartment near Tokyo, then strangled and dismembered them. Discovered after police searched for a missing woman, the case shocked Japan, sparked debate about online suicide content, and led Twitter to tighten rules against promoting self-harm. Despite his lawyers’ “murder with consent” defense, Shiraishi admitted the victims did not consent and was sentenced to death in 2020. Japan’s justice minister said the crimes were driven by selfish sexual and financial motives.
Entities: Takahiro Shiraishi, Japan, Twitter, Tokyo, Japan's Justice Ministry • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
27-06-2025
Japan executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer,” by hanging—the country’s first execution since 2022. Shiraishi, 34, was sentenced to death in 2020 after admitting to murdering, raping, and dismembering nine people (eight women and one man) in 2017, many of whom he contacted via social media after they expressed suicidal thoughts. The case, which shocked Japan and raised concerns about social media, involved victims aged 15–26 whose remains were found in his apartment. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki said the decision followed careful review. A victim’s father criticized the execution, saying he preferred lifelong reflection over the death penalty. Execution dates in Japan are kept secret and announced only after they occur.
Entities: Takahiro Shiraishi, Japan, Twitter killer, Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, death penalty • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
27-06-2025
Japan executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer,” marking the country’s first use of capital punishment in nearly three years. Shiraishi was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering and dismembering nine people in 2017, most of whom he lured via Twitter by targeting those expressing suicidal thoughts. Eight victims were women; he also killed one woman’s boyfriend. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki approved the hanging, citing the crimes’ extreme cruelty and societal impact, and argued against abolishing the death penalty amid ongoing violent crimes. The execution comes amid renewed debate on capital punishment following last year’s acquittal of Iwao Hakamada, who spent 56 years on death row. Japan currently has 105 inmates on death row.
Entities: Takahiro Shiraishi, Twitter, Keisuke Suzuki, Japan, capital punishment • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
27-06-2025
Japan executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer,” who was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering and dismembering nine people in 2017, most of whom had expressed suicidal thoughts online. He lured victims via Twitter, raped and killed eight women and murdered one woman’s boyfriend to silence him. The hanging, conducted in secrecy at the Tokyo Detention House, comes amid growing calls to abolish capital punishment following the acquittal of longtime death-row inmate Iwao Hakamada. The case highlights Japan’s persistent suicide problem and follows several high-profile violent crimes despite the country’s low overall crime rate.
Entities: Takahiro Shiraishi, Twitter, Tokyo Detention House, Iwao Hakamada, Japan • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
27-06-2025
Japan has executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer,” by hanging—the country’s first execution since 2022. Shiraishi was sentenced to death for murdering and dismembering nine people, mostly young women aged 15–26, whom he met on Twitter in 2017 by exploiting their suicidal posts. Justice minister Keisuke Suzuki said the crimes included robbery, rape, murder, and corpse mutilation. The case renews attention on Japan’s death penalty, which retains strong public support (83% in a 2024 survey) but faces criticism for secrecy and prolonged solitary confinement for death-row inmates. As of December 2023, 107 prisoners awaited execution, which in Japan is carried out by hanging.
Entities: Takahiro Shiraishi, Japan, death penalty, Keisuke Suzuki, The Guardian • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
27-06-2025
Japan executed Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer,” for murdering and dismembering nine people in 2017, most of whom had expressed suicidal thoughts on social media. Sentenced to death in 2020, Shiraishi was also convicted of sexually abusing female victims. The hanging, announced by Japan’s Justice Ministry, underscores the country’s continued use of capital punishment.
Entities: Takahiro Shiraishi, Japan Justice Ministry, capital punishment in Japan, The Washington Post, Twitter killer • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
