Black Box Diaries

A very sobering example of how behind Japanese law and society as whole is when it comes to sexual assault and harassment.

It makes absolutely no sense for there to be video evidence with multiple camera angles of someone being pulled half-conscious into a hotel with multiple witnesses saying she was trying to leave where it is later reported as a sexual assault and claim there is not enough evidence to even investigate it. It was an incredibly intelligent move to document the whole process of pursing justice as many who are not aware of how negatively victims are looked at in Japan would not believe it if you told them.

This is quite an harrowing watch at times whilst we follow Japanese journalist Shiori Itô as she seeks justice for an alleged rape a few years earlier. To be fair, up front, this is not a balanced documentary but a potent video-diary style presentation crafted by the woman herself to not only document the course of her own battle, but also to illustrate just how out-dated the legal processes were in a nation that's legal system still treated women as a possession of a man in many ways. We identify the accused - from whom we do not hear directly or via his representatives, and from there on we focus on her attempts to see him face her accusations. The film now concentrates on the courageous efforts of a woman to see that process of justice done. The laws that inherently obstruct her need to be identified, addressed and replaced so as not to protect, or be seen to protect, any influential people from heinous crimes of any sort. It also goes on to demonstrate quite effectively just how difficult - if you are to adopt the "innocent til proven guilty" approach that underpins so much of the legal system - it is to adequately codify crimes of an intimate nature ensuring that they are to be objectively dealt with. Especially problematic as there are so often no witnesser and/or extensive time lapses between the incident and any attempt at redress. It's also quite potent at illuminating what I feel are the frequently absurd differentiations between the evidence required for a criminal or a civil case. The latter always feels to me that it's more about balance of probability, sometimes even money rather than seeing the rule of law robustly and impartially upheld in the first place. This doesn't provide answers to these complex issues, indeed I suspect there are no straightforward answers - but that anyone has to go through this kind of emotional maelstrom just to get a day in court is something that the public ought to feel disgusted by.

Being a documentary filmmaker is most assuredly hard, but then also being the focus of your own work even more so. But thankfully journalist Shiori Ito is no ordinary creator nor subject. As a bold and brave one-woman powerhouse who decides to get justice or die trying after being assaulted by a high-profile colleague, Ito displays both tenacity (she goes after the police chief with camera Nick Broomfield style!) and vulnerability (her honesty is heartbreaking) that is all but lacking from non-fiction flicks of late. Not to mention her examination and exposing of the Japanese legal system is a real eye-opener to the uninitiated. At a time when docs have become safe, Ito proves bold is better - can't wait to see what she tackles next.

Japan's #meetoo moment. Hardly the same impact, because Japan is a shamelessly patriarchal society with a 100 year old rape law. A government official states that only 4% of victims actually come out and go to the police. 4%. And of those very few are prosecuted. This woman had witnesses, video footage of being incapacitated, some DNA on her body and yet... Kudos to the taxi driver who actually spoke on camera about what he saw and heard.

When will we stop repeat victimizing and shaming women? Why is the sufferer of sexual crimes shamed and blamed and told to hide themselves and the offender not even talked about? Why are we using euphemism like "incident"?

This woman was clearly drugged to render her incapacitated and unable to resist. Men have been trying to get women drunk, drugged, to render them unconscious by any means for ages. It does not equal consent. Of course they know that. That's what they are trying to avoid.

There are no consequences here for the politicians and the police chiefs. The footage of the parliament hearings is infuriating.

Shiori Ito had support from friends and lawyers. She lost her livelihood. She was insulted and threatened. She became anxious and depressed. Now imagine what this could mean for a woman with no means and no people around her to have her back. And that is why most women choose to keep quiet. They whole lives are at stake. Stop asking women why they don't come forward. This is why. They are treated like criminals.

"Black Box Diaries" is a deeply moving and courageous documentary that tackles a social issue that is still shrouded in stigma yet destroys countless lives. Directed by Shiori Ito, the film recounts her own harrowing experience of sexual assault by a prominent journalist in Japan, an event that made her a key figure in the country's #MeToo movement. Through raw and intimate footage, Ito bravely documents her journey to seek justice in a legal system that had seen little change in over a century. Her story isn't just a personal account-it's a powerful critique of the systemic failures that have long silenced survivors.

What makes "Black Box Diaries" truly stand out is how it balances the personal with the universal. Ito's willingness to turn the camera on herself, capturing her emotions and struggles, brings a deep sense of authenticity to the film. At the same time, it sparks a much-needed conversation about sexual violence and the urgent need for change, both in Japan and globally. The documentary is not just a retelling of one woman's fight for justice-it's a powerful call to action, reminding us of the ongoing battle many survivors face and the importance of challenging the systems that continue to let them down.