Shiori Ito's Oscar-nominated documentary Black Box Diaries was screened in Japan after months of delay caused by the inclusion of secretly recorded material and court-only footage. Ito, who won a landmark 2019 civil case accusing a TV reporter of rape, said the film's domestic release was personal and aimed at prompting social change. Viewers reacted emotionally at the Tokyo screening, while critics — including Ito's former lawyer — warned the film raises serious human rights and privacy concerns.
Oscar-Nominated #MeToo Documentary 'Black Box Diaries' Finally Screens in Japan — Shiori Ito's Film Rekindles Debate Over Consent and Police Conduct
Shiori Ito won a case against a Japanese TV reporter accused of raping her, and turned her ordeal into a film screened worldwide (Kazuhiro NOGI)(Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP/AFP)
Shiori Ito's Oscar-nominated documentary Black Box Diaries was finally screened in Japan on Friday after months of postponement amid controversy over the use of secretly recorded material and court footage. The film, which Ito adapted from her own legal battle and personal ordeal, has circulated internationally since its release last year and drew a strong emotional response at a Tokyo showing.
Ito won a landmark civil case in 2019 against a Japanese television reporter she accuses of raping her in 2015; the reporter denies the allegations. Publicist Toei Advertising said the domestic release was delayed while the filmmakers made "revisions and adjustments" to address legal and privacy concerns raised about several segments that contained audio and video recorded clandestinely or intended only for courtroom use.
At a screening held at cinema T-Joy Prince Shinagawa, Ito said she had spent the past decade making the film and had hoped it would be "a love letter to Japan." She added that the film's release in her homeland was deeply personal and intended to prompt people to confront issues of sexual violence.
Emotional Reactions and Calls for Change
The screening moved many viewers. Yuko Ono, a publishing-house employee in her 60s, told AFP, 'I couldn't watch it without crying. It's a wonder that she's alive today, and I have nothing but full respect.' University student Niko Nagata, 20, said she hoped the film would 'hammer home the severity of sexual violence' and prompt societal change, noting the high risk of re-victimisation and persistent rape myths.
Allegations and Legal Concerns
The documentary alleges that police efforts to arrest former journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi — whom Ito accuses of raping her — were cancelled at the last minute on orders from 'higher-ups.' Yamaguchi is known to have had close ties to then-prime minister Shinzo Abe. Ito's former lawyer, Yoko Nishihiro, has criticised the film, saying it is 'freighted with serious human rights issues' and pointing to footage used without permission, including a secretly recorded phone call and hotel CCTV shown in court.
'Some revisions were made to the edition screened in Japan, including removing certain scenes and rendering some individuals unidentifiable,' the director said in a statement on Friday.
Context
Government surveys indicate that relatively few rape victims report the crime to police in Japan, though consultations at sexual violence support centres have been rising. Ito has faced intense online criticism since going public with her allegations, and despite several high-profile cases Japan has not seen a broad wave of #MeToo accusations comparable to other countries.
The screening of Black Box Diaries in Japan marks a significant moment for public discussion of sexual violence, consent and the intersection of media, law and politics in the country.
