Japan hangs Twitter Killer who kept 9 severed heads in boxes

Execution chamber at Tokyo Detention House where death row inmates are executed (Illustrative image) JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images

**WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT**: The remains had been kept in cool boxes by the serial killer.

Takahiro Shiraishi, known as the "Twitter Killer", was executed by hanging at Tokyo Detention House in March 2025. This was Japan's first execution since 2022, with news of the event only released afterwards.

The 34-year-old serial killer had murdered nine people whose severed heads were discovered in cool boxes at his apartment in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture in 2017. Police raided the property after the brother of one victim found messages between his sister and Shiraishi on social media and alerted authorities.

Discovery and investigation

Officers found body parts belonging to nine different people - eight women and one man - stored around Shiraishi's home. Cat litter had been used to mask the smell of the decomposing remains.

The twisted murderer had targeted "mentally fragile" women on Twitter who had expressed suicidal thoughts on the platform. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki said Shiraishi sickeningly offered to assist them with their wish to die and lured them to his apartment around 20 miles outside Tokyo.

The crimes and victims

Shiraishi beat, strangled, killed, robbed and mutilated his victims after luring them to his home. He also sexually abused the victims, three of whom were teenagers aged between 15 and 26.

One victim was the boyfriend of one of the slain girls, who Shiraishi killed to silence and prevent authorities discovering his sick plot. He admitted murdering all nine victims and was sentenced to death in 2020.

International criticism

Justice Minister Suzuki said he agreed to the execution "after careful consideration" because the heinous crimes were committed to satisfy Shiraishi's "sexual and financial desires". Prisoners are given just a few hours to no warning beforehand, while their families receive none.

The execution decision was condemned by the European Union. Japan and the United States are the only countries in the G7 that still use the death penalty.

Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Record", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.