Black Box Diaries review – inside the remarkable events that triggered Japan’s #MeToo movement

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Black Box Diaries review – inside the remarkable events that triggered Japan’s #MeToo movement

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Japanese journalist Shiori Itō shares her harrowing journey as she took on the case against Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a prominent TV news executive, after she boldly waived her legal right to anonymity. The documentary provides an intimate look at her challenging experiences while preparing for her legal battle and later penning her memoir, “Black Box,” named for the closed files surrounding her case.

In 2015, while working as a journalism intern, Itō believed she was attending a career guidance meeting with Yamaguchi. However, she found herself at a bar, where declining his hospitality felt uncomfortable. After consuming too much alcohol, she awoke in a hotel room to the horrifying realization that Yamaguchi was assaulting her. Subsequent visits to the police station proved traumatic as officers asked her to reenact the incident using a male dummy. Itō emerged as a pivotal figure in Japan’s #MeToo movement, inspiring countless women in a traditionally conservative society to reflect on their own experiences with abuse. As a journalist, she uncovered a story reminiscent of Watergate, revealing Yamaguchi’s connections to powerful figures, including the Japanese prime minister, who facilitated the cancellation of his arrest warrant. Throughout this ordeal, she faced an avalanche of online harassment, while Yamaguchi maintained that their encounter was consensual.

Reflecting on her motivations, Itō believes her time studying in the United States played a vital role in her decision to pursue justice. The documentary highlights her support system, including a Tokyo police investigator who provided her with crucial information under the condition of anonymity, and a hotel employee who bravely came forward to testify that he witnessed Yamaguchi carry a visibly impaired Itō into the building.

The most disturbing piece of evidence came from CCTV footage showing Yamaguchi forcing her out of a taxi outside the hotel. While the film presents this critical evidence, one minor critique is its lack of detail regarding how Itō and her team acquired this impactful video. Shiori Itō stands out as an extraordinary individual—an intelligent and courageous journalist who may have altered the course of Japanese history.

“Black Box Diaries” will be in UK cinemas starting October 25.