Shiori Ito, a prominent figure in Japan's #MeToo movement, finally premiered her documentary 'Black Box Diaries' in Tokyo on December 13 after months of legal delays. The film chronicles her 2015 sexual assault case and the obstacles she faced in seeking justice, having debuted at festivals abroad in 2024 and earned an Oscar nomination. Ito expressed relief at sharing her story domestically, hoping it sparks open discussion on sexual violence.
Shiori Ito, then an intern at TBS Television in 2015, met senior journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi during a job search. She alleges that after becoming dizzy at dinner and passing out, Yamaguchi took her to his hotel room and raped her while incapacitated, continuing despite her protests upon waking. Ito filed a criminal complaint, but police delayed investigation for weeks, and prosecutors dropped the case without explanation. In the film, a police investigator reveals a planned arrest was halted by superiors, fueling suspicions of influence from powerful figures.
Key evidence included a taxi driver's account of Ito repeatedly requesting a drop-off at a nearby station, and hotel security footage showing Yamaguchi dragging a struggling Ito inside. Ito filed a complaint against prosecutors in 2017 and sued Yamaguchi for 11 million yen ($70,530) in damages. The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the sex was non-consensual, ordering Yamaguchi to pay 3.3 million yen ($21,290); his countersuit for 13 million yen ($83,350) in defamation damages was dismissed.
The 102-minute 'Black Box Diaries,' based on Ito's 2017 book 'Black Box,' explores her battle against authorities and societal stigma. It premiered abroad in 2024, earning an Oscar nomination—the first for a Japanese director in the documentary feature category. Japan's domestic release was delayed by legal disputes over unauthorized use of interviews and footage from witnesses and parties involved.
In 2024, Ito's former lawyer Yoko Nishihiro criticized the film for potentially undermining witness cooperation in future cases by breaching privacy. Film critic Heidi Ka-Sin Lee countered that it prioritizes public good in challenging Japan's culture of silence on sexual assault. Ito apologized in February for some non-consensual content, editing voices of hotel staff, a police investigator, and others; in October, she apologized to the taxi driver and family but retained essential materials.
The film screened to a full house on December 13 at T. Joy Prince Shinagawa in Tokyo. Ito told the Associated Press, 'Until last night, I was afraid if the film is going to come out or not... I’m just so happy that this day came finally.' Survivor Koyuki Azuma, who attended, said, 'I was cheering her as I watched it. I think it will have a positive impact on Japan’s society.' Reforms have been slow; a 2023 revision to century-old sexual offense laws offers better victim protections and harsher penalties for assailants. Ito hopes the film encourages others to 'start slowly opening black boxes around them.'
