TOKYO — After achieving international acclaim and an Oscar nomination, Shiori Ito’s groundbreaking documentary “Black Box Diaries” finally premiered in Japan on Friday, marking a significant moment for the country’s #MeToo movement. The film, which chronicles Ito’s personal journey investigating her own sexual assault case and the systemic barriers to justice, debuted at Tokyo’s T. Joy Prince Shinagawa theater to a capacity audience.
The 102-minute documentary represents the first Oscar-nominated documentary feature by a Japanese director. Based on Ito’s 2017 book “Black Box,” the film provides an intimate look at her experience as an intern in 2015, when she alleges senior journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi raped her after she became incapacitated during dinner. The film documents her years-long legal battle, including police resistance to investigate, the sudden cancellation of a planned arrest, and her eventual civil victory in 2022 when the Supreme Court ruled she was forced into non-consensual sex and ordered Yamaguchi to pay damages.
Despite international recognition, the domestic release faced significant delays due to legal disputes over Ito’s use of interviews and footage without full consent from all parties. Critics, including some of Ito’s former lawyers, raised concerns about privacy violations potentially hindering future sexual assault cases. In response, Ito has edited the film to protect identities while maintaining essential evidence she believes serves the public good.
The premiere comes amid gradual legal reforms in Japan, including the 2023 revision of the country’s century-old sexual offense laws, which provide greater victim protections and stricter punishments for perpetrators. Audience members, including sexual abuse survivors, expressed hope that the film would encourage broader societal dialogue and change in a country where victims have traditionally been stigmatized and silenced.