Japan has carried out the execution of Takahiro Shiraishi, who was convicted of murdering nine individuals after contacting them via social media. The executions, which involved the strangulation and dismemberment of the victims, occurred in 2017 at Shiraishi’s apartment in Zama city. The Justice Minister, Keisuke Suzuki, cited Shiraishi’s ‘extremely selfish’ motives as the rationale for the death penalty, highlighting the shock and unrest caused to society. This execution marks the first in nearly three years and follows a previous one in July 2022. Capital punishment in Japan is administered by hanging, with prisoners informed of their execution shortly before. Suzuki has stated that capital punishment is necessary given ongoing violent crimes, with 105 inmates currently on death row.
