The documentary Black Box Diaries has taken the world by storm. It is the story of journalist Shiori Ito, who directed the film. In 2015, the young journalist was raped by Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a powerful media figure with close ties to then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Even more disturbing was how the police had initially pursued the case, obtaining an arrest warrant for Yamaguchi, only to have the arrest suddenly quashed by a high-ranking government official. Then a political lackey of the Prime Minister scuttled the case, and the prosecutors dropped the ball. It was a blatant example of political interference in law enforcement, the kind of cover-up that reeked of abuse of power.​​ The documentary which uses footage from the hotel, recordings from eyewitnesses and other materials to tell the story,  has been met with widespread critical acclaim and has even received nominations at the Oscars and BAFTAs.  But in filmmaker Shiori Ito’s home country of Japan, the film is facing yet another uphill battle.

Japan Subculture Research Center