Cinema Release: Black Box Diaries

When 28-year-old rookie journalist Shiori Itō goes public with her rape allegation against then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s confidant and biographer in May 2017, she feels she has no other choice but to change Japan’s old-fashioned laws around sexual violence. Her press conference shocks the public in a society where it is considered shameful to speak about such matters.

Within days, Shiori ends up in the middle of Japan’s political storm: the right sees her as a threat to the Abe government, while the left sees her as a heroine for the very same reason. Death threats, cyber-bullying and hate mail push Shiori into a downward spiral. When she files a civil case, the accused declares total war on her. Determined not to set a wrong example for other victims, Shiori perseveres with her case and decides to write a book about her experience. Her book marked the beginning of the #MeToo movement in Japan.

With her own direction and highly personal material, Black Box Diaries captures Shiori’s eventful journey. The film goes beyond the headlines to show what it is like to be in her shoes. As both a victim and a journalist investigating her own case, Shiori shows that her struggle is not only about social change, but also a way of finding her strength again and keeping herself afloat.