“Black Box Diaries” is a film by Shiori Itō that has been nominated for the Oscars

Black Box Diaries is cut with a powerful needle and stitched with a pattern unique to Japan’s #MeToo movement. The Oscar-nominated work portrays the incredibly difficult and decade-long fight for justice that Itō had to put forth after accusing a very famous journalist of rape. 

In April 2015, Shiori Itō, a 25-year-old intern at Thomson Reuters Japan, met Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a senior journalist, at a bar in Tokyo. She later accused him of raping her at a hotel following their meeting. Yamaguchi denied the allegation, stating that their encounter was consensual.

On Breaking the Silence

Shiori’s film raises questions about political influence. Pro-Yamaguchi folks claim that the political proximity with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for whom he was a biographer, worked in his favor. that when the parliament asked Aben about Shiori’s case, he remained unresponsive.

In 2019, Yamaguchi staged a press conference and denied the allegations outright. He even claimed he was the real victim, a PTSD sufferer thanks to Shiori’s accusations. A foreign journalist could be seen on the footage of the event staring and rolling his eyes.

Why Is Japan Unable to Watch Black Box Diaries?

Despite Shiori’s documentary screening at over 50 film festivals worldwide and garnering an Oscar nomination, it has never been screened in Japan. Some say it is because of legal issues regarding CCTV footage. Others argue that it would be guilty of self-censorship and fear of powerful elites.

The #MeToo Movements in Japan, Things Barely Started to Change

Despite immense pushback, Shiori, the poster girl of the #MeToo movement in Japan, was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

However, unlike other countries, Japan’s #MeToo movement did not start with accusations against powerful men in Hollywood; it began taking shape from other concerns like the #KurToow movement that opposed the rule of women wearing high heels at workplaces.

The #MeToo Movements in Japan, Things Barely Started to Change

Despite immense pushback, Shiori, the poster girl of the #MeToo movement in Japan, was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

However, unlike other countries, Japan’s #MeToo movement did not start with accusations against powerful men in Hollywood; it began taking shape from other concerns like the #KurToow movement that opposed the rule of women wearing high heels at workplaces.