In 2015, Japanese journalist Shiori Ito was sexually assaulted by a senior colleague, identified as Mr. X.
After a grueling four-year legal battle marked by countless sleepless nights, she finally achieved her first victory in court.
The supporters who had been waiting anxiously outside erupted in applause upon hearing the news.
Throughout her ordeal, Shiori faced relentless attacks, insults, and skepticism.
Yet, she never gave up. She even wrote a will, stating that she would never commit suicide and requesting an investigation if any such event occurred.
Her courageous decision to speak out not only inspired other victims who had similar experiences but were afraid to come forward but also prompted the Japanese parliament to reform its rape laws for the first time in 110 years!
In 2018, the BBC documented her story in the film “Japan’s Secret Shame,” which resonated globally.
Now, she has taken the director’s chair to personally unravel the painful and dark memories of what happened to her and her journey to fight for justice.
Notably, this documentary has been screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide, garnering critical acclaim and achieving a remarkable 9.3 rating on Douban.
Black Box Diaries
The documentary begins with the camera moving through a long, dark tunnel.
Soon, Shiori’s sister’s voice echoes from the darkness: “Sister, you will be stigmatized. I don’t think you should show your face.”
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
To many, a victim should be sad, weak, hidden, and ashamed. Why come forward? Why speak out? Why not let time heal the wounds?
But Shiori couldn’t accept this. “People need to know how terrible rape is and how much it affects your life,” she said.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
A Battle Against the Odds
An Unlikely Encounter
In 2013, while working part-time, Shiori Ito met Noriyuki Yamaguchi.
As a seasoned journalist and the Washington bureau chief for TBS Television, Yamaguchi held significant influence in the media world.
Having written a biography for Prime Minister Abe, he also enjoyed a close relationship with the PM.
(Still from “Japan’s Secret Shame”)
At the time, Shiori was studying journalism in New York and held this high-ranking, yet seemingly approachable, news executive in high regard.
After graduation, Shiori emailed Yamaguchi to inquire about potential job or internship opportunities.
(Still from “Japan’s Secret Shame”)
Soon, she received a positive response.
A few days later, Yamaguchi invited Shiori to meet him at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo.
However, to Shiori’s surprise, Yamaguchi didn’t discuss any job-related matters during their meeting.
Instead, she mostly heard about Yamaguchi’s close relationships with prominent politicians…
During their meal, Yamaguchi ordered some sake.
Despite it being just a small bottle and Shiori not drinking much, she suddenly felt dizzy.
She went to the restroom, and the last thing she remembered was trying to rest her head on the water tank…
(Still from “Japan’s Secret Shame”)
The next day, she woke up in excruciating pain in a hotel room booked by Yamaguchi.
In a panic, Shiori’s first thought was to escape. She excused herself to go to the bathroom, but was assaulted again when she came out.
She tried to resist, but he was too strong!
After the incident was disclosed, Yamaguchi made a public statement, denying all accusations against him.
(Still from “Japan’s Secret Shame”)
He claimed that the sexual encounter was consensual…
In the new film, “Black Box Diaries,” Shiori located the taxi driver who drove them to the hotel that night.
The driver said that Shiori mentioned taking her to the station two or three times that night, but due to Yamaguchi’s assertive demeanor, reputation, and status, the driver took them to the hotel.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Footage from the hotel’s surveillance cameras showed Yamaguchi practically dragging Shiori out of the car and pulling her into the hotel…
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Although the police obtained the hotel’s surveillance footage, witness statements, and DNA evidence from Shiori’s clothing, the prosecutors decided not to indict Yamaguchi due to insufficient evidence.
Years ago, when Shiori told Yamaguchi that she was going to sue him, Yamaguchi arrogantly told her: “If you want to go the legal route, be my guest. You have no chance of winning.”
(Still from “Japan’s Secret Shame”)
In the film, Shiori also mentioned that she received help from Detective A.
Detective A told her that they had obtained an arrest warrant and were prepared to arrest Yamaguchi as soon as he got off the plane, but they suddenly received an order from their superiors to stop the arrest.
Soon after, Detective A was transferred to another position for “outstanding work.”
To keep his job, he regretfully stated that he could not testify in court.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Shiori said that a prosecutor in charge of her case often used the term “black box”:
“The incident occurred in a private space; it’s a ‘black box.’”
However, as a party involved and as a journalist, the more Shiori tried to open this “black box,” the more “black boxes” she discovered in Japan’s investigative agencies and judicial system…
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Speaking Out
A Public Dialogue
After the criminal case was dropped, Shiori held a press conference to seek future justice. She decided to have a public dialogue and share her experience.
But ever since Shiori decided to come forward, the most common thing she heard was: “You will ruin your future, Shiori!”
For most people who tend to cover up shameful things, Shiori’s voice was an act of shamelessness.
Countless insults and doubts came at her.
Some said she slept with people to get ahead.
After the press conference, some called Shiori a “slut” simply because she didn’t button her shirt all the way up.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Her life also underwent drastic changes. Suspicious vehicles often appeared near her residence. She was afraid to go out and take public transportation. Her once carefree life became increasingly distant.
She was the victim, but now she was the one who was socially dead.
The perpetrator’s work and life were not affected in the slightest.
In 2022, when Abe was assassinated, Yamaguchi was the first to report his death.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
And Shiori, an unknown person, could only be blacklisted by the Japanese news industry.
But that doesn’t mean that everything Shiori did was useless. Some Japanese women with similar experiences have changed their thinking.
Shiori once met a girl who had been sexually assaulted, but she didn’t report it to the police.
The girl cried and told Shiori that she was afraid of being questioned by male police officers, afraid of being asked why she didn’t resist, why she didn’t shout, and even more afraid of recreating the scene with dolls.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
According to Japanese government data, only 4% of rape victims report to the police. One of the reasons for this result is related to the less-than-human investigation methods.
In particular, using mannequins to simulate the scene is undoubtedly a secondary injury to the victim.
But seeing Shiori appear in public, she realized that a drop of water may not change anything, but when gathered together, it can form a tsunami.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Facing the Pain
The Struggle Within
In fact, in this documentary, we see more different sides of Shiori.
Unlike the Shiori in “Japan’s Secret Shame,” who tried her best to remain strong and restrained, in this documentary, she unreservedly tore open her pain, fragility, and panic.
Several times, Shiori’s emotions suddenly collapsed as she spoke.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
When talking about her family, Shiori said that they had repeatedly stopped her from speaking out. Her father hoped that she could live a normal and happy life, meet someone, get married, and have children.
But Shiori knew that if she closed her mouth, she would not be happy. She was already sobbing as she said this.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
A friend wrote an article about her. When she was browsing, Yamaguchi’s forehead suddenly appeared in her eyes as she scrolled down.
At that moment, Shiori had a panic attack and couldn’t watch it anymore…
Shiori said that she is the girl who was raped in the public’s mouth, but she never regrets what she did.
Because if she didn’t say anything, the law would not change, and more and more people would be afraid to speak out after being sexually assaulted.
She acted, and although she experienced both joy and pain in the process, it was better than silence.
It was precisely because of Shiori’s continuous struggle that Japan revised its rape law for the first time in 110 years, increasing the minimum sentence from three to five years!
It also established a foundation to support victims of sexual assault for the first time…
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
After watching “Black Box Diaries,” the biggest feeling is that you seem to have spent countless tormenting days and nights with the girl in the film.
On December 18, 2019, when you see her win the civil lawsuit and hold up the two big characters “victory” in front of the media, it’s hard not to be moved by that scene.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
After the victory, Shiori said that this does not mean that what happened has disappeared, and I still have to find a way to heal my wounds.
Although this is a long process, at least she won’t panic again when she sees him again.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
Countless conversations, evidence, countless despair and struggles, swallowed countless unbearable memories, and chewed countless pains.
Fortunately, more and more people heard her voice and offered her help.
Shiori once attended a media exchange meeting, where she heard stories from women who had similar experiences and also heard a lot of encouragement for her.
Shiori said excitedly:
Usually, when I speak, I always feel like I am standing there naked.
But today, I feel like I have a blanket on.
This is the first time I have felt this way, so many blankets that I can’t move.
You know, you have this blanket too, just like me.
(Still from “Black Box Diaries”)
People live in the world and will really encounter all kinds of things. Some, you can think of, some you can’t. And some, like those shown on TV, you think will only happen to strangers in some distant place…
— Shiori Ito, “Black Box”