Black Box Diaries: Release date, plot, trailer and more

Directed by Japanese journalist Shiori Itō, Black Box Diaries follows her journey to investigate her own s*xual assault case and the subsequent legal battle in Japan. It was released in theaters in the US and UK on October 25, 2024. Starting January 7, 2025, audiences can stream it on Paramount+ with Showtime. The film is created based on the 2017 memoir by Itō.

The documentary tells the scary and brave story of Itō's fight for justice. Black Box Diaries is a mix of investigative journalism, emotional stories, and secret recordings that take place in Japan's deeply flawed legal system. It focuses on problems in society, such as systemic sexism and old laws, and gives viewers a compelling and eye-opening experience.

Through its awards at international festivals, such as The Golden Eye for the Best Documentary, and recognition as one of the top documentaries of 2024, Black Box Diaries stands as a powerful testament to the importance of storytelling and accountability.

---

Release date and plot of Black Box Diaries

Black Box Diaries will be available for streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime starting January 7, 2025. Japanese TV reporter Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a powerful and politically connected TV reporter, reportedly s*xually assaulted Shiori Itō, and the story highlights her brave fight for justice.

It happened in 2015 when Itō was an intern at Thomson-Reuters and went to a meeting with Yamaguchi in a restaurant. She was drugged and Yamaguchi reportedly r*ped her. Even though she tried to get justice, Japan's courts wouldn't bring the case to light because of old laws that stated victims had to show proof of physical violence.

The documentary shows how Itō never gives up on finding the person who hurt her. The movie sheds light on how Japan's legal system and society's views on s*xual assault survivors are flawed by using hidden audio recordings, moving personal accounts, and real-life footage.

Due to Yamaguchi’s alleged close friendship with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Shiori’s criminal case was not given the serious attention it deserved. The film is not just a personal story; it's also a landmark case that shows how gender inequality and justice have been problems for a long time.

---

Cast details

The documentary features real-life figures central to Itō’s story, including:

• Shiori Itō – Journalist, director, and survivor
• Noriyuki Yamaguchi – High-profile Japanese TV journalist and accused perpetrator
• Producers: Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin, and Shiori Ito
• Editor: Ema Ryan Yamazaki
• Cinematographers: Hanna Aqvilin, Yuta Okamura, Shiori Ito, Keke Shiratama, and Yuichiro Otsuka
• Original score: Mark degli Antoni
• Executive producers: Robina Riccitiello, Josh Peters, and Mitsunobu Kawamura

---

What’s in the trailer?

The Black Box Diaries trailer gives the viewers a scary look into Shiori Itō's journey. In the beginning, there is a video of her talking directly to the camera about being assaulted and how the police later dropped her case. As Shiori gathers evidence, meets with lawyers, and deals with public backlash, tense music plays in the background.

In the trailer, there are also excerpts from secret recordings that show how difficult it was for her to find flaws in the system. It ends with a strong message: Japan needs to change how its laws and society treat s*xual assault victims.

The official synopsis of the movie reads:

"Black Box Diaries follows director and journalist Shiori Ito's courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender."

It continues:

"Unfolding like a thriller and combining secret investigative recordings, vérité shooting and emotional first-person video, Shiori's quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's desperately outdated judicial and societal systems."

---

Black Box Diaries will be available to stream on Paramount+.