Content warning: The following article contains details of sexual assault that could be triggering. 

In 2015, Shiori Ito, at the time a 25-year-old intern at Reuters, attended a dinner to discuss job prospects with a prominent journalist. What followed that night unfolded into a seven-year sexual assault investigation, becoming a landmark case that spurred legal and systemic changes in Japan’s approach to sexual crime.

From Bestseller to Big Screens

Ito’s documentary, “Black Box Diaries,” is a direct evolution of her successful memoir “Black Box.” It meticulously captures every grueling detail of the laborious criminal investigation process, revealing the resistance faced at every turn. Ito’s decision to go public with her case in 2017 was met with intense backlash from both the public and the police.

In her memoir, Ito writes, “If I waited for someone else to speak out, things would never change.” This unwavering will for change and the power of narrating her own story fuel both the memoir and the documentary. Ito grapples with maintaining her identity as a human being, a journalist, and now, in bold letters, a victim. 

The film opens with a message reaching out to those in the world who have also experienced sexual violence. In Japan, it is estimated that 70% of victims do not seek any help at all from support centers, and only 4% of victims come forward, often anonymously. 

Ito immerses the audience in the realities of crime investigation, weaving time-consuming formal procedures with her candid, real-time reactions. Her report is initially rejected due to one minor inconsistency, and even when progress is finally made, the principal investigator is removed from the case for “doing a good job.” Her press conference is quickly stifled, the arrest is halted without reason, and when her case is ultimately refused, she starts over again with a civil case, all the while enduring public slander, threats, and constant criticism. The labyrinthine challenges are enough to deter any survivor from persisting, especially when friends and family encourage them to retreat, as was the case with Ito.

Ito’s tenacity as a journalist shines through as she continues to ask the right questions and gathers critical information. Facing a Herculean task, a young female journalist taking on a major broadcasting figure with close ties to the prime minister, she sacrifices her personal reputation and career prospects.

From Behind the Lens

Derived from over 400 hours of footage, the raw, first-person perspective of “Black Box Diaries” draws viewers into a survivor’s experience, a stylistic shift from the memoir’s more objective, journalistic approach.

“When I wrote my book, it was three months after I went public and … I didn’t know what was going to happen. I had to stay focused as a journalist; I wasn’t ready to open up as a survivor,” Ito admits. “When I published my book, I realized how I’ve been feeling and facing myself somewhere in a corner. I didn’t take time to discover what was going on inside of me as a survivor. That’s something I felt like I should be honest about. I thought I can explore [that] in the film because with the book, I was still wearing a huge, heavy ‘protection.’ I couldn’t be truly, honestly, openly vulnerable back then … That’s something I thought I could do personally through a documentary film.”

The film opens with a serene scene: the gentle trickle of water with cherry blossom petals drifting by. This tranquil imagery sets the stage for a deeper exploration into Ito’s life. As the documentary progresses, Ito shares a poignant revelation. The assault she endured coincided with the blossoming of cherry trees — a time typically associated with beauty and renewal. Yet, for Ito, this season has transformed into something unsettling. The blossoms now serve as a painful reminder, triggering vivid and distressing memories of her trauma. 

The documentary is predominantly shot using confessionals recorded on an iPhone or following Ito as she conducts her investigations. What stands out is the deliberate use of voice-over during static shots. For instance, as she narrates her testimony, the camera lingers on mundane objects — a faucet, hotel room sheets, a plain wall. This approach compels viewers to listen to the harrowing details of her assault, projecting us deeply into the victim’s perspective and the detached, yet intense, experience of her trauma.

Ito approaches her narrative with unflinching honesty, embracing roles both as a survivor and a dedicated journalist. She authentically explores the breadth of her experiences without feeling exploitative. Moments of devastation are interspersed with remarkably lighthearted moments — curious children, emotional catharsis among female survivors, and spontaneous singing and dancing to “I Will Survive” provide relief amid intense emotional depths.

Balancing her roles as both the subject and director of the documentary, Ito candidly discusses the difficulty of facing herself. “Editing took four years out of this, eight years of film, and filming was much more natural because it was happening at the time,” she explains. “For me, documenting was something that I did every day. But editing was when I asked myself, balanced myself, and faced myself.”

Shifting Paradigms

Sexual assault cases are often misrepresented and underreported. As a victim and a journalist, Ito brings these issues to light, exposing the patriarchal power structures entrenched in contemporary Japan. Through her courageous storytelling, she offers a vulnerable perspective on life as a survivor.

When Ito released her memoir, “Black Box,” the allegations against Harvey Weinstein were rocking Hollywood, igniting the global #MeToo movement. This pivotal moment coincided with Ito’s efforts, amplifying her urgent call for cultural and legal reform within Japan’s approach to sexual crimes.

Recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2020, Ito’s advocacy for justice and female empowerment was groundbreaking. However, this newfound prominence also brought immense pressure and personal challenges. It strained her familial relationships, endangered her safety, and jeopardized her career in journalism. Despite these hardships, Ito continues to bravely confront the media’s treatment of women within a sexist and flawed judicial system.

“I’ve covered sexual violence assault stories before, for foreign media about Japan and I see the reaction of these people saying, you’re putting shame on Japan and they call it anti-Japan. Of course I’m not anti, I love Japan,” Ito states. “Something I’ve learned from this journey is that when the topic is really hard to talk about from where you are from, from your own community, there is a way to do it from outside. Somehow, sometimes it’s more efficient because a country like Japan cares about what other people outside of Japan think about [them]. I think I was privileged that I could have somehow escaped, move away to London and communicate in English. Otherwise, I couldn’t even find a platform of people to speak to. It’s shifted how we can exchange and share information in our daily life through many different kinds of social platforms.”

Moving Forward

After winning her civil case, she continues to face potential countersuits for defamation while persisting in the same professional field as her assaulter. Though this ongoing legal battle may appear inconclusive, Ito emerges victorious. By simply continuing to work with resilience and an unwavering “I’m still here” attitude, Ito exemplifies that women can transcend the roles of survivor or victim. They can reclaim their identities beyond these labels and move forward from traumatic experiences.

“As a documentary filmmaker, I think I’ve done my job,” Ito affirms. “I’m committed to do a little bit of social impact campaign and tour this year, but as a journalist and filmmaker, I’m so ready to tell someone else’s beautiful stories. I’ve done my part of storytelling. So hopefully I can just reach as many women and men as possible.”

Meanwhile, in Japan, progress on the legal front has been slow but promising. In 2017, Japan increased the minimum jail term for rapists to five years and expanded the definition of sexual assault victims to include men for the first time. By 2023, Japan finally raised its age of consent from 13, one of the world’s lowest, to 16 — an overdue change that had been stagnant since 1907.

“Black Box Diaries” exemplifies how one voice can catalyze significant cultural shifts and offer hope to countless others. As Japan begins to make incremental legal progress, Ito’s courageous narrative inspires and affirms that actual change is possible when survivors are heard and supported.

Cover Credit: Shiori Ito in “Black Box Diaries.” Photo by Tsutomo Harigaya