In a compelling new film, Shiori Ito unfolds her tireless quest for justice in Japan after levying serious accusations against a prominent journalist. It’s a rarity that a person becomes the protagonist of their personal narrative, let alone a beacon for others. In 2017, Shiori Ito, a 28-year-old Japanese journalist, bravely did just that. It was May 29 when she revealed at a press conference that she was sexually assaulted in a Tokyo hotel two years prior by a highly influential journalist, Noriyuki Yamaguchi. (Yamaguchi has since rejected these allegations.)
Ito chose to speak her truth despite the immense pressure to conceal it. Close to a room full of journalists, she emphasized the importance of understanding the trauma of sexual assault and its profound impact on one’s existence. Her documentary portrays her struggle as she valiantly becomes a figurehead of Japan’s movement against sexual violence, while simultaneously facing police indifference, discriminatory laws, gender-based vitriol, and concerns over her personal security.
Her decision to go public was a bold move, one that was relatively uncommon. Despite that, she chose to be completely transparent, making her name a regular feature in the headlines. As Ito pursued justice, her individual battle evolved into a prolonged campaign that eventually turned into a nation-wide introspection on sexual violence and harassment.
Supported by friends and attorneys, and further strengthened by empathetic strangers and allies, Ito put up an extraordinary battle to alter Japan’s attitudes and legislation around sexual violence. The film, inspired by her 2017 memoir called ‘Black Box’, paints a detailed picture of Ito’s tribulation and her relentless fight for justice. The narrative that unfolds resembles a complex crime story, with Ito simultaneously embodying the roles of the victim, primary investigator, and investigative journalist.
Following the 2015 incident and lodging a criminal complaint with the police, Ito found herself needing to advocate for her own cause. When authorities discarded the case in spite of DNA proof and testimonial evidence, she resolved to take her individual investigation to a global platform.
The documentary’s candid nature is indeed engrossing; although, it could also at times offer a sense of confinement. ‘Black Box Diaries’ stands fundamentally as a personal narrative, and while it is successful on that premise, it is ultimately more emotionally than intellectually stimulating.
Throughout the production, Ito complements her personal experience with broader information on Japan’s sexual assault laws. Yet, when Ito dialogues with other women, some revealing their own terrible experiences, there’s something missing – a stronger acknowledgment of the collective momentum these voices bring towards continuing efforts for equality.