JAPAN has executed the man who brutally murdered eight women and one man – aged between 15 and 26 – after luring them to his flat.

Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the “Twitter killer”, raped, strangled and dismembered his victims – in a chilling case that shook one of the world’s safest countries.

Shiraishi, who committed the crimes in 2017, was executed by hanging – marking Japan’s first execution since 2022.

Then 27, the serial killer lured young women to his home, where he raped them before murdering them.

Three of the eight women were schoolgirls.

He also killed the boyfriend of one of the women to silence him.

Authorities made the disturbing discovery in October 2017 while investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman last seen walking with Shiraishi.

Cops found the victims’ body parts in Shiraishi’s flat in the Japanese city of Zama, near Tokyo.

One resident told The Japan Times in 2017: “I thought it smelled like sewage. It was something I never smelled before.”

Another neighbour said they noticed a “nasty smell” coming from the flat.

Nine dismembered bodies were found in three coolers and five large storage boxes inside the flat – dubbed the “house of horrors” by the media.

The serial killer had discarded parts of his victims in the bin, which was collected with the recycled garbage.

It later emerged that he had searched online for how to mutilate bodies before buying a saw and a meat cleaver.

Shiraishi pleaded guilty to murdering nine victims in October 2020.

The killer revealed he met them on the social media platform Twitter, now known as X.

He told the victims he could help them die, even claiming in some cases he would kill himself alongside them.

His Twitter profile wrote: “I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM [direct message] me anytime.”

Prosecutors demanded the death penalty for Shiraishi, while his lawyers argued for a prison sentence, claiming the victims had consented to their deaths and that he should be charged with “murder with consent”.

They also called for his mental state to be assessed.

But Shiraishi later disputed his own defence team’s version of events, revealing he killed without the victims’ consent.

435 people showed up to watch the 2020 verdict sentencing him to death – despite the court having only 16 public seats – Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported.

As a result of the murders, Twitter changed its rules to state users should not “promote or encourage suicide or self-harm”.

Shiraishi was hanged at the Tokyo Detention House in secrecy.

Japan’s Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, who ordered Shiraishi’s execution, announced the news on Friday.

He said Shiraishi acted “for the genuinely selfish reason of satisfying his own sexual and financial desires” and that the case “caused great shock and anxiety to society”, according to AFP.

Japan currently has 105 people on death row, Suzuki added.

The country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

If you are having feelings of despair or emotional distress, help is available.

In the UK, you can call Samaritans anytime, free of charge, at 116 123 any time.

In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – also available 24/7.