Episode 53: The Twitter Killer

Authors: Emma Howard and Gracie Rosette Instagram: @grosettephotosDescription:  In this episode, we dive into the tragic case of the “Twitter Killer,” a 27 year old man from Japan that took the lives of nine people in 2017. We discuss the details of the case, how social media played a role in his crime, and how his death in 2025 sparked controversy in Japan regarding the death penalty. Through this story, we hope to raise awareness on mental health and honor the victims who lost their lives too soon. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, rape, suicide, and violent crime. We advise you to continue at your own risk.Disclaimer: There are many Japanese names involved in this case. We apologize in advance for any mispronunciation and will do our best to say each name with care and respect.Sources: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/15/946625736/japans-twitter-killer-sentenced-to-death-in-killing-of-9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takahiro_Shiraishihttp://cnn.com/2025/06/26/asia/japan-takahiro-shiraishi-executed-intl-hnkhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y05dk2p92ohttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-executes-twitter-killer-takahiro-shiraishi-serial-killer/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15868722https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/asia/japan-takahiro-shiraishi-executed-intl-hnkhttps://people.com/twitter-killer-rape-murder-women-execution-hanging-japan-11762615Link for Anonymous Mental Health Resourceshttps://www.crisistextline.org/ Song: GhostComposer: Tim BeekWebsite: https://soundcloud.com/timbeek License: Free To Use YouTube license youtube-freeMusic powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xARkRApqx92jgXjBCa6ri61tqzYT00OfrPfJljgtAUA/edit?tab=t.0