Hiroaki Hidaka (日高 広明) was a Japanese serial killer.

Early life

Hidaka was born in the Miyazaki Prefecture. He was originally an excellent student, but he failed to enter the University of Tsukuba, his target college. He entered the Fukuoka University instead, but eventually dropped out. He often borrowed money, drank and went to prostitutes. In April 1989, he moved to Hiroshima and began to work as a taxi driver. Hidaka married in 1991, and had a daughter in 1993, but his wife entered a mental hospital.

Murders

Hidaka killed and robbed four women between April and September 1996. One of his victims was a 16-year-old girl who engaged in enjo-kōsai. He was arrested on September 21, 1996.

Trial and execution

The district court in Hiroshima sentenced Hidaka to death on February 9, 2000, a sentence that he did not appeal. He was executed by hanging on December 25, 2006. After his execution, his lawyer, Shuichi Adachi, protested that he had been illegally refused access to his client by prison authorities.