When Japanese journalist Shiori Ito chose to speak out about her rape allegations, she knew she was challenging a culture that often favors silence.
“I’m scared… but all I want to do is to talk about the truth,” she says in the opening scene of her Oscar-nominated documentary, Black Box Diaries.
Shiori became a symbol of Japan’s #MeToo movement after accusing Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a well-known journalist, of sexual assault.
Her directorial debut, inspired by her memoir of the same name, documents her pursuit of justice after authorities deemed the evidence insufficient for criminal prosecution.
While the film has been recognized globally, it has yet to be screened in Japan, where it faces significant legal and ethical challenges.
Her former legal team has accused her of using audio and video footage without permission, arguing that it has breached confidentiality and endangered sources.
Shiori, however, defends her choices, insisting they serve the public good.
The case initially drew widespread attention in Japan when Shiori defied societal and familial pressure to remain silent.
After criminal charges were dismissed, she pursued a civil lawsuit and won $30,000 in damages.
Shiori described making the documentary as an emotional struggle, likening the editing process to “hardcore exposure therapy.”
The film includes more than 400 hours of footage, including CCTV clips of her being dragged into a hotel while intoxicated.
This footage, now a source of contention, was reportedly used without authorization, contradicting an agreement that limited its use to court proceedings.
Last week, her former lawyers, led by Yoko Nishihiro, publicly criticized the documentary, warning that releasing trial evidence could hinder future sexual assault cases.
Nishihiro also alleged that Shiori had included unauthorized recordings, identifying a police detective and a taxi driver who had provided key testimonies.
The legal team expressed deep disappointment, claiming Shiori had betrayed their trust.
Shiori acknowledged not having the hotel’s consent to use the footage but justified its inclusion as “the only visual evidence” of her assault.
She argued that revealing the detective’s audio was essential to exposing what she believes was a cover-up of the investigation.
She maintains that her stance is rooted in public interest, while her former legal team prioritizes strict adherence to legal protocol.
Despite its international recognition, there is no official explanation for why Black Box Diaries has not been released in Japan.
Shiori believes Japan is “still not ready” to confront the issue, though legal obstacles may also be a factor.
Following the backlash, she has pledged to re-edit the film to obscure identifying details, ensuring a redacted version is used going forward.
Shiori’s case is one of many that have sparked discussions on Japan’s legal system and cultural attitudes toward sexual violence.
In 2023, former soldier Rina Gonoi came forward with her own assault case, coinciding with Japan’s historic decision to redefine rape laws and raise the age of consent from 13 to 16.
Though Gonoi won her case, Shiori argues that the price of speaking out remains too high, asking, “Is it worth going through this as a survivor seeking justice? It shouldn’t be this way.”
With uncertainty surrounding whether her film will ever be shown in Japan, Shiori remains hopeful.
She considers Black Box Diaries a “love letter to Japan”, expressing her deepest wish for it to be screened in her home country—more than even winning an Oscar.
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