Maker of Japan #MeToo documentary apologises for covert footage

Journalist and #MeToo campaigner Shiori Ito apologised Thursday to those featured in “Black Box Diaries” without their permission, addressing a dispute over the Oscar-nominated documentary not yet released in Japan.

Ito, 35, won a landmark 2019 civil case against a prominent Japanese TV reporter accused of raping her, a charge he denies.

She turned her ordeal into a film screened in countries worldwide and now up for best documentary feature at the Academy Awards.

But “Black Box Diaries” has not yet been distributed in Japan, where her former lawyers have raised legal and ethical concerns over video footage and audio that was covertly shot or meant for use in court.

The lawyers told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday that Ito may have breached Japan’s civil code on privacy violations.

They said “Black Box Diaries” was not “banned” in Japan, or shunned due to its subject matter, but rather has not been shown due to these concerns.

“I apologise to those whose consent was not obtained for the use of the footage,” Ito said in a statement.

“I understand there has been criticism, and it is justified. Nevertheless, I prioritised the public interest and made the decision to use the footage in the film.”

“In the latest version, all efforts have been made to ensure that individuals cannot be identified,” she added.

Yoko Nishihiro, who represented Ito for more than eight years, said she had felt “completely shattered” after realising that a secretly recorded phone conversation had been featured.

Nishihiro and her team highlighted other footage used without permission, including hotel CCTV shown in court.

Despite several high-profile cases, Japan has never seen an outpouring of #MeToo allegations, Ito—who received vicious online criticism for going public—has said.

Government surveys in Japan show few rape victims report the crime to the police, although the number of consultations at sexual violence support centres is rising.

Ito alleges that ex-journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi—with close links to then-prime minister Shinzo Abe—raped her in 2015 after inviting her to dinner to discuss a job.

Having told Ito there was insufficient evidence, police then said they would arrest Yamaguchi, before suddenly backing off.

In the documentary, Ito records one police investigator telling her the order came from “higher-ups.”

In 2019, she won $30,000 in damages in a civil case that was followed by a toughening of Japan’s rape laws.