Takahiro Shiraishi

Takahiro Shiraishi, infamously known as the "Twitter killer," is back in the news due to his execution in June 2025. This event marked Japan's first use of the death penalty in over a year. Shiraishi was convicted of murdering and dismembering nine people, a crime that shocked the nation. His case gained significant attention due to the use of social media in luring his victims. The recent execution of Sunao Takami, who killed five people in a 2009 pachinko parlour arson, serves as a point of comparison, highlighting the fact that Shiraishi's execution preceded Takami's by some margin. Shiraishi's case remains a stark reminder of the dark potential of online interactions and the severe consequences of heinous crimes.