Content Advisory: Rape and Sexual Assault
A Japanese journalist investigates her own sexual assault in Black Box Diaries. In May 2017, Shiori Ito goes public about how she was raped by Yamaguchi, the Washington cheif of the Tokyo Broadcast System. Shiori’s goal is to get a criminal case reopened after an arrest was halted, presumably due to Yamaguchi’s friendship with Japanese Prime Minister Abe. When it is decided that the criminal case will not be opened, Shiori instead releases a book about her experience and pursues a civil case against Yamaguchi.
Black Box Diaries Synopsis
Black Box Diaries is a documentary directed by Shiori Ito, based on the book she wrote about her own sexual assault case. At the core of the story is how behind Japan is from the rest of the world in regards to sexual assault, where non-consent is not considered enough to prove a rape. Now in the public eye and subject to much victim blaming, Shiori hope to find a way to make Yamaguchi pay for what he did to her.
My Thoughts on Black Box Diaries
There is an ironically sad moment in Black Box Diaries where thanks to the infamy generated by her book, Shiori Ito is recognized in the middle of the street as “the girl who was raped.” The story ends up running concurrently with the development of the #MeToo movement, with much emphasis about how backwards Japan is in treating these chases. While the film does have a bittersweet conclusion, Black Box Diaries is film worth checking out about a young woman who refuses to remain silent.