Why The Killer Chose His Victims In Erased - The Psychology Behind It Explained

Daksh Chaudhary
Apr 7
3 min read

The psychology behind the killer in Erased explained

Gaku Yashiro in Erased presents himself as the perfect teacher: kind, patient, and helpful, however, he's the mastermind killer with a twisted psychology. Beneath that calm smile lies a calculating serial killer, preying on his next target. His victims - mostly children - seem chosen at random. But when you look closer, a chilling method emerges.

As the series progresses, Satoru Fujinuma uses his Revival ability to go back in time and save his classmates from Yashiro’s attacks. He uncovers a pattern: Yashiro only strikes when he’s sure no one else will be there, and he always leaves someone else to blame. Understanding why the killer picked each victim in Erased reveals a dark psychology - one that blends fate, framing, and a twisted need for control.

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The Spider String: Reading Fate’s Signal

Yashiro seems to have a supernatural sense for his next victim. In the anime, you might notice subtle hints, like the camera lingering on a red thread above a child’s head. This spider string marks someone fated to die, and Yashiro follows it without hesitation. He believes he’s reading a signal from destiny itself.

By trusting this string, Yashiro never misses. He sees the thread and strikes when the child is isolated. This belief in a predestined victim lets him justify his actions. To him, he’s merely fulfilling a fate no one else can see. This twisted faith in the spider string gives him confidence and a sense of inevitability, each time he plans a murder.

Crafting The Perfect Frame

How Gaku Yashiro crafted the perfect crime

Yashiro’s killings aren’t random acts of violence; they’re carefully staged crimes. He makes sure two conditions are met: first, there must be someone he can blame. Second, the victim must be completely alone. This method keeps suspicion away from him and often points straight to Satoru, his pupil.

For example, when Kayo Hinazuki disappears, Yashiro plants evidence to frame her mother. When Sachiko Fujinuma is killed, he stages it to look like Satoru’s suicide. By controlling the scene, Yashiro manipulates both the police and public opinion. His methodical approach shows he’s not just a killer, he’s a planner who uses fear and doubt as weapons.

Erased Killer Psychology: Preying On The Vulnerable

Children are Yashiro’s primary targets, and not by accident. Kids are alone, easy to lure, and less likely to fight back. They also attract less attention from authorities when they vanish. Yashiro exploits this vulnerability, choosing those he knows will be isolated at predictable times.

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He watches the school routine, finds moments when a child is alone, and strikes. His knowledge as a teacher gives him insider access to schedules, making his attacks almost impossible to prevent. By targeting the defenseless, Yashiro feels in control, and no one suspects the beloved teacher hiding behind the facade.

The Drive For Control

Yashiro’s childhood offers clues to his dark urges. As a boy, he endured abuse from an older brother and saw helpless hamsters drown in a cage. This early exposure to suffering warped his view of power and mercy. He came to believe that taking life was the ultimate assertion of control over chaos.

Each murder lets him rewrite the world in his favor. By choosing fate’s victims, framing innocents, and preying on the weak, he reclaims the helplessness he once felt. His crimes are not just about killing, they’re about proving he can shape reality, even if only for a moment.

Final Verdict: A Psychopath’s Methodical Mind

Gaku Yashiro’s choice of victims in Erased isn’t random, it’s a window into a fractured mind. He follows the spider string of fate, ensures a perfect frame, and preys on the vulnerable. Each step reinforces his twisted belief that he alone can control life and death.

In the end, Yashiro is a perfect planner, a manipulator, and a man driven by childhood trauma. His methods reveal how a charming teacher can hide a calculating predator and darkest intentions. Understanding the killer's psychology shows us that, in Erased, the greatest threat often comes from the person you trust the most.