Black Box Diaries

When 28-year-old aspiring journalist Shiori Ito goes public in May 2017 with her rape allegation against a well-known media figure and biographer of then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she feels she has no other choice but to try to change Japan’s antiquated sexual assault laws. In a society where speaking up on such matters is considered shameful, her press conference shocks the public.

Within days, Ito is swept into the centre of Japanese politics – the right views her as a threat to the Abe government and the left hails her a hero for the same reason. Death threats, cyberbullying, and hate mail take Ito into a downward spiral. When she files a civil case, the accused wages an all-out war against her. Determined not to set a bad example for other victims, Ito pushes on and publishes a book about her experience.

Directed by Ito herself, Black Box Diaries captures her tumultuous, heart-wrenching, and ultimately triumphant journey, going behind the headlines to reveal what has been like to walk in her shoes. It reveals the toll that politics, media, and technology takes on the humanity of individuals. Being both a victim and a journalist, the documentary shows that Ito did this to not only create a great social change, but to keep herself alive.

“It seems to encapsulate a generation’s dreams and disappointments, torments and triumphs. Even if it takes place on the other side of the world, it’s still a story we all know when we see it.” ~Fionnuala Halligan, Screen Daily

“The journalist-turned-filmmaker crafts a stunning, effective tale of reclaiming victimhood and the fight for justice.” ~Lex Briscuco, TheWrap