Shiori Ito Book order

This groundbreaking memoir addresses the critical issues of sexual assault, stigma, and silence in Japan, challenging societal norms and sparking a feminist movement. Through personal experiences, it highlights the struggles faced by survivors and advocates for change, making a significant impact on the discourse surrounding sexual violence. The work not only sheds light on individual trauma but also emphasizes the need for collective action and awareness in confronting these pervasive issues.

In 2015, an aspiring young journalist named Shiori Ito charged prominent reporter Noriyuki Yamaguchi with rape. After meeting up for drinks and networking, Ito remembers regaining consciousness in a hotel room while being assaulted. But when she went to the police, Ito was told that her case was a "black box"--untouchable and unprosecutable. Upon publication in 2017, Ito's searing account foregrounded the #MeToo movement in Japan and became the center of an urgent cultural and legal shift around recognizing sexual assault and gender-based violence. As international outlets covered every step of her story--even documenting it in the BBC film Japan's Secret Shame--this book launched a societal reckoning. At the end of 2019, Ito won a civil case against Yamaguchi. With careful and quiet fury, Black Box recounts a broken system of repression and violence--but it also heralds the beginning of a new solidarity movement seeking a more equitable path toward justice.