The Courageous Journey of Shiori Ito
Not everyone has the opportunity to be the heroine of their own narrative, let alone become a beacon of hope for others. On May 29, 2017, Shiori Ito, a 28-year-old journalist from Japan, took a bold step forward by publicly revealing that she had been raped in a Tokyo hotel two years prior, at the hands of a journalist with significant connections, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, who has denied the allegations against him. Despite immense societal pressure to remain silent, Ito chose to share her story. “People need to understand the horrors of rape,” she declared at a press conference, “and how profoundly it can affect one’s life.”
Fearless and resolute, Ito candidly discusses her experiences in “Black Box Diaries,” a poignant yet at times frustrating documentary that chronicles her emergence as a public figure in Japan’s #MeToo movement. Throughout her journey, she faced various obstacles including police indifference, misogynistic laws, and rampant sexist hostility, all while grappling with her own safety concerns. It was a brave decision to go public—one that is not commonly undertaken in Japan. As David McNeill, an editor at Asia Pacific Journal, noted in an interview with Ito after her initial announcement, “One of the first things many Japanese women do while still shivering and bleeding at home is to read online about the experiences of others — and often conclude that it’s not worth pursuing justice.”
Initially, Ito refrained from using her surname to safeguard her privacy, as not all her family members supported her decision to speak out. However, she quickly made the courageous choice to fully reveal her identity, becoming a prominent figure in the media. Her name appeared in headlines as she relentlessly pursued justice, transforming her personal trauma into a collective cause. Over the years, her efforts contributed to a national dialogue about sexual violence and harassment, culminating in significant changes in societal attitudes and legal frameworks. In 2023, Japan took a monumental step by criminalizing non-consensual sexual acts; prior to that, in 2019, the United Nations had asserted that the “absence of consent” should define rape globally.
The documentary, inspired by her 2017 memoir titled “Black Box,” serves as a detailed account of Ito’s harrowing experience and her quest for justice. The title metaphorically alludes to the prosecutor’s characterization of her case as a “black box,” signifying that the events unfolded behind closed doors. Notably, the film opens with intimate, handwritten statements overlaid on images of flowing water, creating a confessional atmosphere. “Please be mindful of the triggers in this film,” it advises, as cherry blossoms gracefully drift across the screen. “Close your eyes and take a deep breath if you need to.” As the imagery of water and petals flows, so do Ito’s words: “That has helped me many times.”
What follows is a gripping and complex narrative that unfolds like a crime thriller, where Ito embodies multiple roles: the victim, the relentless investigator, the determined prosecutor, and the passionate journalist. In 2015, after the assault and upon filing a criminal complaint with the police, Ito realized that she needed to take charge of her own advocacy. She began meticulously documenting the investigation through secret audio recordings, detailed written accounts, and video evidence. After prosecutors ultimately dropped the case, despite compelling DNA evidence and corroborating testimony from a taxi driver who had transported her to the hotel, Ito made the brave decision to take her personal investigation to the public sphere.
