‘Black Box Diaries’, an Oscar-nominated documentary by Shiori Ito, explores her investigation into the sexual violence she experienced in 2015. The film chronicles her encounter with Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a Washington DC bureau chief for Tokyo Broadcasting System, who allegedly raped her after a dinner meeting. Despite reporting the crime, the police discouraged her from pursuing legal action and even subjected her to a distressing recreation of the assault.
In Japan, where speaking about sexual violence is still a taboo, Ito drew great ire when she publicly accused Yamaguchi in 2017. Critics focused on her appearance, judging her choice of dress. She nevertheless prevailed in 2019, winning a civil case against Yamaguchi and having him ordered to pay ¥3.3 million in damages. Her success solidified Ito as a leader of Japan’s #MeToo movement, even as Yamaguchi still denied the accusation and sued for defamation.
Ito’s memoir, ‘Black Box’, was the foundation of her directorial feature, ‘Black Box Diaries’, which screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary has been well received, playing at more than 50 festivals and being nominated for an Oscar. It might never be screened in Japan, though, because of incendiary footage and the country’s conservative approach to sexual violence.
Ito’s lawyers have accused her of improper use of unauthorized videos, such as hotel security videos and those taken by investigators and taxi drivers, which were originally meant to be used in court. Ito justified using them, saying it was necessary to show how her case had been botched. She has vowed to re-edit the film to ensure that privacy of the persons involved is preserved.
The director’s challenges with distributing the film in Japan have their roots in both legal issues and society’s unease regarding such controversial matters. Despite them, Ito’s case has brought about vast changes to the laws of Japan, such as an increase in the sexual age of consent and a widening of the definition of rape. The director wishes for the documentary to motivate other victims to speak up, calling it her ‘love letter to Japan’.
“I want to encourage other survivors to share their story in their own words, because it’s very empowering,” Ito explained. “Own your story and be the one to tell your own story.”