Shiori Ito’s Oscar-nominated documentary Black Box Diaries has encountered a major setback after being denied a theatrical release in Japan, her home country. The film, which chronicles her legal struggle against former TBS journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi, remains unavailable to Japanese audiences due to concerns over certain recordings being aired without consent. However, many believe this is just another manifestation of the institutional resistance Ito has faced since publicly accusing Yamaguchi of rape in 2015. The case sparked intense debate about sexual violence in Japan, where the #MeToo movement has faced significant cultural and societal barriers.
Ito’s documentary is based on her memoir of the same name, which details her relentless pursuit of justice despite authorities initially declining to prosecute Yamaguchi due to “insufficient evidence.” The film provides a harrowing account of the legal and emotional struggles faced by sexual assault survivors in Japan, where victims must often provide overwhelming proof to have their cases taken seriously. Using over 400 hours of footage, Black Box Diaries presents shocking evidence, including CCTV footage of an intoxicated Ito being pulled from a taxi and taken into a hotel, a scene that forms a critical part of her allegations.
One of the film’s central themes is the extreme burden placed on victims to gather evidence on their own. Ito not only had to investigate her own case but also track down key witnesses, secure their cooperation, and relive her trauma while documenting her experiences. The filmmaker, now an internationally recognized journalist and activist, has spoken candidly about the emotional toll the project took on her. In an interview with BBC, she revealed, “It took me four years [to make the film] because emotionally, I was struggling. Every step of the process forced me to relive my trauma.”
The incident in question took place in 2015 when Ito was an intern at the Reuters news agency. She claims that Yamaguchi, then the Washington bureau chief of Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), invited her to dinner under the pretext of discussing a job opportunity. She alleges that she was drugged and raped afterward. Yamaguchi has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that their encounter was consensual.
Despite facing immense social and legal pushback, Ito took matters into her own hands and filed a civil lawsuit against Yamaguchi after criminal charges were dropped. In 2019, a Japanese court ruled in her favor, ordering Yamaguchi to pay $30,000 in damages. The verdict was seen as a landmark moment in Japan’s ongoing battle for gender equality and justice for sexual violence survivors. However, Ito continues to face backlash from conservative sections of society and the media, who have questioned her motives and integrity.
While Black Box Diaries has been widely praised internationally for its unflinching portrayal of Japan’s deeply flawed legal system, its lack of distribution in Japan raises serious concerns about censorship and the reluctance of institutions to confront sexual assault allegations involving powerful figures. Many see this as part of a broader issue in Japan, where victims who speak out often face isolation, societal shame, and legal roadblocks.
At the 96th Academy Awards on March 2, Black Box Diaries was a strong contender for Best Documentary but ultimately lost to No Other Land. Despite this, the film’s impact remains undeniable, as it continues to shed light on the systemic challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence in Japan and beyond. Ito’s story has resonated with audiences worldwide, highlighting the courage it takes for survivors to seek justice in the face of adversity.
