All language subtitles for black box diaries

I know that there are many in the world
who have been subjected to sexual
violence.

This film may contain triggers. Close
your eyes and breathe deeply if you need
to.

It has helped me many times.

Now I will tell my story.

I plan to document myself.

What I feel and...

I don't know what happens next.

But next week,

after May 10th, that is five days before
I turn 28 years old,

things are going to change.

I have the chance to tell the truth
about what happened to me two years ago.

It's something that I think has been
ignored.

It could mean a big change in my life,

and also for many others.

I don't know... I'm scared and don't
know if I can take that responsibility,

but I just want to tell the truth.

Hi, big sister. How are you?

Mom said that you should come out with
what happened.

But you will be stigmatized.

Even if you continue as a journalist.

People will see you as a victim.

So I don't want you to show your face.

Tell what happened.

He has been a political journalist for
many years.

He has friends in the police and is
close to Prime Minister Abe.

That scares me.

-Without evidence, it will be a
difficult case. -Are you talking about
DNA evidence?

-Yes, there isn't even any sperm. -But
DNA from my bra...

That only proves that he touched it,
nothing more.

If you don't have strong evidence...

You will jeopardize your future,
Ito-san.

-I don't remember anything from that
night. -I wasn't aware of the incident.

I remember driving on that street.

I picked you both up over there.

You wanted to get off at the nearest
station.

I said that Meguro station was the
closest.

It was in the same direction as the
Sheraton Hotel.

But as we approached the station,

he wanted to discuss something at his
hotel

and told me to drive there.

I have a vague memory of you saying:
"Drop me off at the station."

I didn't know who to listen to.

So I asked again if I should drive to
the hotel, and he said yes.

He said something like: "I won't do
anything.

I just want to talk."

How many times did I ask you to drop me
off at the station?

-To let me go home? -Two or three times.

When we arrived at the hotel, you didn't
get out of the car.

Passengers usually get out right away.

But you stayed seated, and I wondered
what was going on.

Then the man took you out.

On May 29, 2017, today I will come out
publicly.

It is the only way to get my case
reopened.

At first, the police refused to accept
my report.

They said that the current laws make it
difficult to investigate sexual crimes.

And that Yamaguchi is a high-ranking
person,

as the head of Tokyo Broadcasting System
in Washington.

Since the incident, I, as a journalist,
have focused on uncovering the truth.

I have had no choice.

To only see myself as a victim would
break me mentally.

Work has been my only way to protect
myself.

People need to know how horrific a rape
is

and how deeply it affects one's life.

When I became a victim

I became aware of how little our voices
are heard.

As a journalist, I must highlight these
issues.

When I saw Yamaguchi speak from his
position of power

I felt a tightness in my chest.

What does freedom of speech mean in this
country?

Who is it that our media and laws really
protect?

It is unusual to show your face in a
rape allegation.

Why have you chosen to show your face?

The usual expectation of a victim

is that she should be sad and weak,
hiding and feeling ashamed.

It is a norm that I find hard to accept.

I have nothing to hide.

If I don't speak out, the law will not
change.

That is why I am coming forward.

Do you think Yamaguchi's close
relationship with Prime Minister Abe
played a role?

I believe that someone with more power
influenced the process.

Someone with more power?

Japanese men are attractive.

That is why women exploit them to
advance their careers.

They were probably friends with benefits
who became enemies, and now she wants
revenge.

For a rape victim, she had a rather deep
neckline.

It is scary to set a honey trap with a
woman of that caliber.

She criticizes Japan, but still wants to
live here.

She should be strangled.

Did the van move?

It looks like it has dark windows.

I want to hide and try not to be out
among people.

What did you say? Sunglasses? Yes, I
will do that.

Get ready to stay with me.

-Throw away the food you have in the
fridge. -Okay.

I'm saying goodbye to my apartment for a
while.

It feels like I have lost my home.

I'm currently staying in their bedroom.
It's me!

She is like a baby crying in the middle
of the night.

I wake up and feel anxious. She is
tossing and turning.

She is suffering, so I calm her down. I
pat her on the back until she falls
asleep.

But she will wake up again soon.

When I'm going out, she gets sleeping
pills.

I call out to her.

She panics when she is alone, so I make
sure she takes the pills.

I didn't think it would get this big.

This process will take some time.

You could no longer work. You can't go
out.

You were subjected to defamation by
people you had never met, who didn't
know anything.

It is unacceptable. But you are trying
to survive.

I want something to come of your
efforts.

Even for your career. It must result in
something.

I have promised to take care of them
when they get old.

After Shiori's press conference

people online wondered if it was an
attack on the government.

Many coarse, irresponsible comments.

They told me to wear a black suit and a
white shirt.

That was just advice, right? A
suggestion?

They said the media would be tough on me
if I didn't dress properly.

- And was that true? - I bitterly
experienced that.

- They called me "prostitute." -
Prostitute?

- Because I hadn't buttoned my blouse. -
What kind of time are we living in?

I should have worn something buttoned,
so they would think I was crazy.

I joked: "I would rather wear a bikini
or a loud dress."

Don't tell me how to dress." I
complained about that.

And they said that's how the media is.
National Press Club.

It's terrible.

On the 29th of last month,

a woman held a press conference at the
National Press Club.

Even though some support her,

others have criticized her outfit and
other irrelevant details.

The current law on rape is based on
patriarchal values.

It is intended to protect married women
who are subordinate to their husbands.

Even the proposed amendments to the law
are characterized by the same mindset.

Rape can only be proven in cases of
severe physical violence or threats,

not by lack of consent.

Japan's 110-year-old rape law.

Many have already seen the negative
reactions I've received.

And... it is not okay.

I do not want to be a bad example

for people who need to speak out and ask
for support,

so that they think: "This is how it
goes, and I can't handle it."

No, it is not okay, so I must raise my
voice.

I must not stop speaking, for I do not
want people to believe...

... that this silenced me.

On June 30, 2017

I have decided to write a book about my
ongoing investigation.

This is transcriptions.

I recorded our conversations with the
investigators and prosecutors.

I felt from the very beginning that they
were not doing their job.

Everything they said felt like excuses.

So I hid a small recording device in my
bra

or somewhere else on me.

I have been recording for two years.

One of the most important things on the
recordings is this investigator.

I call him "Investigator A."

He helped me get insider information.

Here we see what he said on the phone.

Without the recordings, no one would
believe what I have heard.

Two years earlier, in 2015

On April 26

Investigator A is still refusing to
accept my report.

It's a difficult case due to lack of
evidence.

If you had evidence or a memory...

I said that I regained my memory when...

Can you specify the time, to the minute?

- No, but it was before 5:00. - How do
you know that?

Because I left the hotel around 5:30.

You left at 5:50, so you're mistaken.

- You don't remember. - I woke up during
the rape.

- I have said that it's not enough. -
Even if I woke up while it was
happening?

- But there is no evidence. - I don't
understand...

On May 7

Investigator A begins to take the case
seriously.

I know what you said earlier, but the
law has its limitations.

But I understand how you feel, so I
don't want it to end here.

Please believe me. But we police must
explain things.

We must make choices based on what is
best for the victim.

- I spoke with the prosecutor... - You
were rejected, weren't you?

At first, he said it would be difficult
to bring charges.

And now?

Now that we have new evidence, I want to
have it.

If I go to the prosecutor with more
evidence

maybe he will try to bring charges.

The number you have dialed is currently
unavailable...

On June 23

I have been called to the Tokyo police
headquarters.

- Nice to meet you. - Sorry we called on
short notice.

Why is the previous lead investigator
not here?

Investigator A? He was reassigned
because he did a good job.

That's the only reason.

What was supposed to be an arrest
instead became a voluntary questioning.

You may not be convinced. There is an
arrest warrant,

but that does not mean we can make an
arrest.

Are you okay?

Do you mean that what he did to me is
not enough to arrest him?

No, I don't mean that.

So you already have a valid arrest
warrant?

- I cannot answer that. - But you just
said you do.

- No, I did not. - Not that?

It is not me who gives the green light.
I just obey the orders of my superiors.

At 10:05 PM I received an unexpected
call from Investigator A.

Did you hear what happened to me?

I heard you were reassigned because you
did a good job.

Well, that's not quite true.

We shouldn't discuss this on the phone.

Good evening.

- Sorry for it being so late. - No
worries.

Thank you for coming after work.

I'm sorry, but I have been cut off from
the investigation.

I don't know what they told you at the
Tokyo police,

but we definitely had an arrest warrant.

I brought it to Narita Airport.

There were four of us waiting in the
car.

Then we received orders from our
superiors

to abort the arrest.

I belong to an organization, and if I go
against my superiors

I will be considered a traitor.

I still don't know why they aborted the
arrest.

I want to see how far I can get.

And if everything fails, I can show the
problems with the law.

I don't think I will ever forget this
case.

Two years later, in 2017

Thank you for having me today.

Fantastic, on your business card it says
"Agency for Violence Against Women."

According to a survey from the
government office, only 4% of all rape
victims

manage to report the rape to the police.

What do you think about the fact that
96% of all cases are not reported?

The fact is that 70% of all victims do
not seek help from the authorities.

So it is difficult to connect them with
our support center for sexual violence.

The biggest obstacle is going to the
police,

And the toughest thing for me was to
recreate the event with a life-sized
doll.

What do you think about that as an
investigative method?

The government office is not aware of
the circumstances in individual cases.

When it comes to police investigation
methods,

I believe they should act

according to the guidelines that are in
place.

Yes, but despite saying this, it hasn't
led to action.

The guidelines for dealing with victims
have been in place for 15-20 years.

So it is regrettable that they are not
followed in everyday work.

We must continue to make an effort to
take action where it lacks.

-Sorry for not answering more
concretely. -Thank you very much for
your time.

Do you conduct interviews in all
relevant areas?

Yes, but the Tokyo police and the
national police have not agreed to that.

-This is the only government interview.
-So it's just us?

-Yes, that's how it turned out. -The
police...

I want to wait with the news that the
book is going to be published.

I'm worried that Yamaguchi will try to
stop the publication in court.

-Can he do that? -Yes.

-I didn't know that. -It's possible.

You're writing about him.

If you use real names, they can demand
that it be stopped.

But other media, then? Like magazines
and newspapers.

That counts as news, and then it doesn't
apply.

But a book can be subject to legal
action.

Tell me what this is!

"Black Box," that is the title of my
book.

It's an expression that the prosecutor
used.

He always said: "It's in a black box, so
we can never know what happened."

That says everything about what is wrong
with our justice system.

It just arrived! Now I feel ready.

I have the name of the book.

"Black Box"!

Yes! More wine! Here is the green box.

We have five liters of wine. I love my
green box.

-Do you use your work phone as a police
officer? -It's fine now.

-Are you sure? -I think so.

-We can talk when we meet. -Okay.

Shall we meet and talk next week?

We can do that. Should I be prepared for
something?

-No, I don't think so. -Okay.

Bye for now.

Oh, that was the investigator!

We are meeting at six next week,
Wednesday the 13th.

It feels like he wants to talk about
something.

Maybe he wants to come forward. I hope
so.

He might want to say that he wants to
believe me

and go his own way to tell the truth

and be a part of it.

If it's possible, I would like to ask
you to speak publicly.

Maybe even testify.

-That's not possible. -Why not?

Not if I want to keep my job.

-No plans to quit? -I need financial
security.

Unfortunately, I can't provide that!

I understand the need for change and
your desire to achieve it.

I think what you're doing is important.

I have mixed feelings.

If I reveal what I've written in my
book...

...he could lose his job.

It's hard to think. I don't know what's
right.

But if you are a journalist

who really scrutinizes politicians,

then they must know you are a journalist
and that it could come out.

And our job is to tell the truth.

But he's a good guy, so...

Member Yunoki.

The police were waiting at Narita
Airport to arrest Yamaguchi,

but they let him pass and leave. Why?

When the press asked about the arrest
being canceled

at the request of Prime Minister Abe or
Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga,

Nakamura, the head of the Tokyo police,
said:

"I did not consider an arrest to be
necessary."

This concerns that Shiori and the rape
allegation against Yamaguchi...

-May I continue? -Interrupt the
stenography.

I would like to ask you

not to discuss private citizens in
parliament.

We talk about citizens all the time!

Does Yamaguchi receive special treatment
because he is friends with Abe?

Yamaguchi's biography of Abe was
published

just two weeks before the case was
dismissed.

If Yamaguchi had been arrested, Abe
would not have been able to let it be
published.

At 4:00 PM Meeting with veteran
journalists

I would like to film today's meeting.

-I can't be on camera... -I understand!

Let me introduce myself. My name is
Kanehira.

I have worked for 40 years at TBS's
editorial office.

Yamaguchi is a younger colleague of
mine.

I feel responsible for having raised
this kind of men.

I want to start by apologizing for that.

Your press conference had a large
impact.

So why was it only one TV channel that
covered it?

And the newspapers barely wrote about
it. I thought that was bizarre.

I thought everyone would want to report
on such a major scandal.

But that didn't happen.

Nakamura, the head of the Tokyo police,
spoke after the press conference.

He stressed that he had stopped the
arrest due to lack of evidence.

I plan to interview him this month.

-Nakamura? -And catch him off guard.

-That will be fun to see! -What a shock!

-Incredible. -Wow...

It's something we would never think of
doing.

That the person the story is about
interviews a key individual...

I would only do that in the most extreme
circumstances.

Good morning!

-When does he usually leave? -The other
day it was a quarter to eight.

The rape allegation against Yamaguchi...

Regarding the arrest warrant that you
stopped...

Why did you drop the investigation?

If you heard about the case the same
day, did you have enough time to
investigate it?

They want to know what's going on!

Hello. Has he left?

This way?

Around the corner?

-Where is he? -He should be coming out.

-What is he wearing? -There he is!

Excuse me!

He knew about it and avoided us.

He knew it.

When I was running, I regretted skipping
breakfast.

A good sprint!

I thought they would slow down when I
arrived, but they sped up.

You knocked anyway.

I wish I had gotten a word in anyway. I
should have worn sneakers.

Huh?

-That looks like the van we saw. -Does
it?

Hi, I have a question.

Do you sell bug detectors?

Bug detectors? Let me check...

I said it as if it was totally normal:
"Do you have bug detectors?"

He just said, "Okay, I'll check."

Let me see...

It beeps everywhere.

Could it be my radio mic?

That was me!

Let's try again.

Oh, that scared me.

-How did it go? -It's still working.

I don't know.

If we're talking about something
important, we have to do it in the
bathroom.

September 23, 2017.

Last editing with my publisher.

The phrase "Rape is a murder of the
soul"...

Here we have it. Let's strike it and
save it for the end.

-Hello! -This is Nishihiro, your lawyer.

-Can we talk now? -Yes.

Your case will not be resumed.

I understand.

That is the decision from the
prosecution review board.

At 7:00 PM, crisis meeting with my
lawyers.

Can I ask to speak with my lawyer?

Japan Times is asking if this means the
end of the criminal case.

Yes, it does.

Okay, thank you.

Yamaguchi has made a very lengthy
statement to the press.

"If any media portray me as a
criminal...

"...I will take legal action."

He doesn't just mean previous articles,
but everything that is written in the
future.

-It's an obvious threat. -We are
ready!

Hi, mom?

-Shiori, it's been a while. -Yes, it
has.

So...

Yesterday, the decision came from the
prosecution review board.

Did it? And?

-It's not possible to bring charges.
-What? It's not possible?

-So he won't be prosecuted? -No.

Are you kidding? How is that possible?

I just wanted to let you know.

I understand. So frustrating!

-Do you really think so? -Of course!

He should be arrested!

-Today in Shiorinyheterna! -Thanks
for watching!

The rat rode on the ox's back. Then
it jumped off.

The rat came in first, the ox in second.

That's why it's said that the cat chases
the rat.

Shiori!

-Mom turns 33 this year. -No, 23. Ten
years younger!

My publisher just sent this.

My family doesn't know that it's coming
out in thirteen days.

I couldn't handle their no.

I knew this was necessary, but I'm
putting them in danger.

I still remember

what my dad said. I told him that I
would be doing the press conference, and
they said:

"You are not here to discuss that.

You are just telling us what you are
going to do, but we want to stop it."

And dad said: "As a father, I want my
daughter

to have a normal, happy life.

Meet someone, get married, and have
children.

I hope you can live close to us."

I know that I can do it anyway,

and being silenced would not make me
happy.

But if I lose the opportunity to be
close to them...

It's funny, I wrote in my will:

"I felt bad after the press conference,

but I would never commit suicide.

If something happens that resembles
suicide, I ask you to investigate it,

because that is not who I am.

If it happens, promise to publish the
book and this documentary."

I wrote that on Saturday.

I wanted to get out into nature, but I
was so scared to go alone.

I worry that I don't have investigator
A's permission.

to quote him in my book.

-Can you hear me? -Yes.

I couldn't talk because I was at a
party.

Sorry to interrupt, but I need to tell
you something.

Is it okay that I'm drunk?

-You might sober up now. -Oh really?

Well, the fact is that I am writing a
book.

-Please don't mention my name. -I won't.

-You mustn't. -I just wanted to mention
it.

That sounds like a good idea.

You are a journalist, and it's important
to document.

Thank you. I laugh because your response
surprised me.

Only you, who have stood up against this
reality, can understand what it's like.

The public doesn't understand.

-But my job is to get it out. -Yes, you
are a journalist.

I kept asking myself what I could do.

I joked about you helping me
financially.

But it shouldn't be about that. Is there
something I can do?

If I'm honest, I would want you to step
forward.

Well... I can do that if you marry me.

That would of course be a solution.

But we are headed in the same direction.

I cannot testify in your civil case

as long as I work as a police officer.

When I come up with a way that you can
help me

I will ask for your support.

-Of course. -Thank you.

-Are you feeling well? Are you taking
care of your health? -I'm surviving.

-Are you eating properly? -Yes, I am.

-Let me treat you to dinner. -Thanks,
maybe.

What do you like to eat?

-Do you like ramen noodles? -I love it.

-Then we'll have ramen sometime. -Yes.

Maybe when everything calms down. Thank
you.

-Don't give up, and don't forget to eat.
-Thank you very much.

-Sorry for being drunk. -No problem!
Thank you very much.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

At 2:00 PM, the final version is to be
submitted to the publisher.

-Will we make it? -It's a tight
schedule.

The printing house is working full
speed.

Why does it need to go so fast?

It's because there's an election soon.

It's a chance for a major political
change.

The book should be available as a basis
for the voters' decision.

Right now you are the person who can
make a change.

Previously, the victims, the women,
haven't had enough influence to step
forward.

-I hope we reach the bookstores.
-Exactly.

I got a call from my lawyer.

He said that the mayor of Tokyo wants me
to join her new party

and run in the next by-election.

And...

People say that if things go well for
Abe in this election,

then my life is in danger. It's
nonsense, but...

Can I say that? It's bad.

Good evening! I am Shinzo Abe from the
Liberal Democratic Party.

We will build a Japan where people can
dream of the future.

Tomorrow is the election.

My publisher thought I should avoid the
media,

in a safer place.

Tomorrow is the election, we'll see how
it goes and that's just it.

I'm not participating in that.

I'm just a journalist who experienced
it.

I don't know what people expect.

I'm not an activist and I'm not
propagandizing for anything.

Suddenly I felt so tired.

Maybe all the pressure.

I feel no pressure and don't want any
pressure. It's not my...

It's not my...

The Prime Minister's party looks set to
win big.

There are four copies of the book at the
entrance.

It looks like people have taken it.

A guy was standing there reading, but he
put it back.

I should have said: "I've read it, and
it's good."

"I've read it four times."

There's a famous producer in Hollywood,

and many women have told what he has
done to them.

So now there's the hashtag MeToo.

It feels like people all over the world
have started to talk about it.

It feels amazing!

I don't know her name. There's only an
email address here.

"I've been thinking this for a while,
but with the book I want to say

that I am ashamed that we belong to the
same gender.

Do you think you haven't done anything
wrong?

I was strictly raised to avoid such
things.

Even if what you say is true

I feel sorry for the men you accuse. You
should be ashamed."

"The Prime Minister" by Noriyuki
Yamaguchi

The whole world is moving forward

with the MeToo movement.

But in Japan, we are moving backward on
the issue of sexual violence.

Worldwide, the media report with
suspicion about this case.

Cover-ups cannot be allowed.

The investigation is full of "black
boxes."

Prime Minister Abe,

were you aware of this investigation?

-The head of the Security Commission...
-No, he's not on the list.

I asked the Prime Minister. This is
obstruction!

Let me answer.

My question was directed to the Prime
Minister, not to you!

-It's pointless if Abe doesn't answer.
-Prime Minister Abe.

Member Yunoki, use your common sense.

As Prime Minister, I do not comment.

on what I know or do not know in
individual cases.

But I absolutely did not know the
outcome of this case.

Journalist Yamaguchi raped Shiori Ito...

In his book, Yamaguchi speaks about his
relationship with Prime Minister Abe.

They play golf, hike, and have been
friends for over 16 years.

Hi! Nice to meet you. My name is Shiori
Ito.

-You are well-known! -I heard you
mention my name.

-I just happened to walk by. -Can I take
a picture?

-Shiori! I'm following your case online.
-In that way.

-I support you. -Thank you.

-Good luck! -Thank you very much.

When you see her up close...

She doesn't look at all like in the
pictures.

Wasn't that the Shiori who was raped?

-Yes. -Was it her? For real?

-I didn't understand that! -She is
everywhere online.

Shiori? Has she left? Why didn't you say
that it was the girl who was raped?

It reminds me that six months have
passed...

...since I became "the raped girl" to
the public.

I am talking to women in media in
Harajuku.

Thank you for having me here.

Then let's get started.

Shiori's case shows how difficult it is
to talk about sexual violence,

to even raise your voice when something
is wrong. The Japanese society needs to
change.

Like the norm that one receives negative
comments about MeToo.

I teach journalism theory.

The first thing I teach is that
journalism is about scrutinizing power.

But our journalism has not scrutinized
power the way men have.

I have avoided wearing a skirt at work

and hidden my feminine side, so that
people wouldn't notice me.

But in recent years, I have felt that
this is not right.

Society cannot change if both men and
women do not change.

All of us who have worked in media
recognize this.

When I was between twenty and thirty,
something similar happened to me.

I felt that I couldn't continue as a
journalist if I came forward.

So, I stayed silent.

But when I read Shiori's book

I regretted that I hadn't cared about
the next generation.

I am ashamed of that.

Sorry, I have become hoarse. Thank you
for sharing.

When I speak, I always feel like I am
standing here naked.

But today it feels like I am covered
with blankets.

I'm sorry.

It's the first time I feel this way. So
many blankets that I can't move.

Being here, with such experienced
industry colleagues.

And knowing that you feel the same way I
do.

This day has given me a lot of hope.

Thank you so much, Shiori!

Japan's justice system is so poor that
the UN believes it needs to change.

Shiori's criminal case was dropped, so
now she is moving forward with a civil
case.

It will be a long battle, and the
attacks against her will continue.

I received an email from the head of the
New York Times Tokyo bureau.

She finally published the article about
me. We met six months ago.

They have been waiting for an
opportunity to publish it,

and now was the right time, so they have
done so.

So far, they have been the only media
company

that has been able to speak with
Yamaguchi.

She said that on the phone two weeks
ago.

I just read the article,

and suddenly I saw his forehead

as I was scrolling through the article.

I had a panic attack.

If just a photo of him makes me feel
this way,

how will I be able to sit in court

and see him with my own eyes?

On February 10, 2018

The preparations for the trial are
becoming intense.

- We need to go through their claims. -
What is true and false.

They have written their version of the
truth in detail.

We need to check it all, paragraph by
paragraph.

The headlines will be: "Complete
rebuttals from the accused."

We must counter that by preparing our
key evidence.

Otherwise, we will appear weak.

What I realized was...

My only motivation for talking about
this, for living and doing it...

...comes from the fact that I am a
journalist.

I see it as something that happened to
someone else.

And when I became that person, I didn't
know how to cope.

I realized...

...that I have not addressed myself.

I want to meet the person from the
Ministry of Justice.

Yes, Sufian.

It's not just about sexual violence.

It's a power problem, that power is
being abused.

We could all be victims,

perpetrators, or observers.

You're familiar with the story involving
the CEO Qiangdong.

She said her friends didn't want to
pressure her, because it's too much.

I'm just running away and can't stay.

I don't want to confront myself.

On March 23, 2019

Yamaguchi is suing me for 130 million
yen for defamation.

I'm sure you are all upset about
Yamaguchi's lawsuit.

Today we are starting "Open the Black
Box" to support Shiori in her civil
case.

Let us all stand behind her.

Sorry, I forgot what I was going to say.

I actually didn't know if I could come
here today.

A couple of weeks ago, I couldn't move
for two days.

The incident took place around this time
four years ago.

I realized that I hadn't seen the cherry
blossoms in four years.

I had been abroad, so I asked my friends
if we could go and see them.

But then I wondered why I felt so
nervous.

I realized that the incident took place
when they were in bloom.

After that, I couldn't handle seeing
cherry blossoms.

It made me realize

that memories can be triggered at any
moment.

There are so many of us living with this
pain.

Mom, dad...

Thank you for all the years you raised
me.

I really feel awful.

But how am I supposed to endure this
pain?

I don't know anymore.

I have been blessed with many
opportunities and have lived a happy
life.

But despite that,

I cannot live the life that I have been
given.

Everyone has a beast within them, but
mine didn't destroy me.

I have come this far, and I can face
him.

Dad called me today.

Tomorrow he is taking time off work to
come here.

I don't want to think about how it feels
for him to go to court.

Don't think about it!

I wonder how it feels.

Are you going to read this?

-The most important thing is my
testimony. -Here?

-Do you have to read it out loud? -Yes,
even though I have done it many times.

-Do you have to memorize it? -I have to
know it thoroughly.

Then I will read it.

Shall we begin?

"I emailed the defendant on March 25,
2015

and asked if there were any job
openings.

As a journalist, I wanted to work with
social issues,

but in Washington, I would be writing
about politics.

I wanted to express my concern about
that at our meeting.

When I got there, to my surprise, it
turned out to be a dinner for two.

It felt wrong, and I didn't know how to
interpret the situation.

Suddenly, I felt dizzy and went to the
bathroom.

I have no memories after that, until I
wake up in a hotel room."

-Are you okay? -Yes, just a little...

-Do you want to take a break? -It's
okay.

"I woke up with intense pain in my lower
abdomen."

I didn't know where I was or who was on
top of me.

I tried to push him away, but he was too
strong, and I panicked.

I said that I needed to go to the
bathroom, and he finally moved.

I ran in and locked the door.

In the mirror, I saw that my nipple was
bleeding and that I had bruises.

I had no memories of what had happened,
so I became terrified.

I needed to calm down, find my clothes,
and get out of there.

When I opened the door, he grabbed my
arm and forced me down onto the bed.

My face was pressed against the
bedspread.

I couldn't breathe and thought I was
going to die.

The respondent said: 'I like you. You
can come to Washington. You are
approved.'

To him, I was just a small thing. I felt
powerless.

I asked where my underwear was. He
wanted to keep them as a souvenir.

I felt how I was losing all power and
made my body small.

When I asked for the underwear, he said:

'Now you're like a cute, helpless
child,' and gave them back to me."

This one can't be buttoned.

Never mind.

It's a long queue. Please wait.

July 8, 2019 - Cross-examination at the
district court in Tokyo.

I have been told not to record in the
courtroom.

- You did well. - Yes.

We are proud.

Our eyes met.

He sat behind my lawyers.

When I stared at him, he looked at me.

His eyes said "What do you want?" and
then he turned away.

"I am still here," I wanted him to know.

"I am listening to you. It's all up to
you."

I am so glad that I didn't ask for a
partition.

Even though I will have new nightmares.

But the fact that I didn't panic when I
saw him boosted my confidence.

You overcame an obstacle.

Now I can handle beards. Beards and bald
heads.

October 6, 2019

Tomorrow the final hearing in my civil
case will take place.

I received an email from a porter at the
Sheraton Hotel.

He remembers the evening very well.

He reported it to the police, but the
hotel forced him to keep quiet.

-He remembers many details. -Great!

When I got out of the taxi

I walked away from the entrance and
tried to get away.

It also sounded like I was moaning
loudly.

I was so drunk that I didn't seem to be
conscious.

-It's an important testimony. -I believe
so too.

But my lawyer, Murata, doesn't want us
to delay the trial.

There is a risk that the judges might
change their minds.

As a lawyer, I do not consider that a
sufficient reason to delay the trial.

What worries me the most is that the
hotel will prevent him from testifying.

"One must ask oneself why he is coming
forward now."

I don't believe this, but...

"Could he be connected to Yamaguchi?

We must be skeptical."

The first trial is crucial. Your lives
are at stake.

-Hello? -Hi, is this Chikuba-san's
mobile?

-Yes. -Shiori Ito here. Thank you for
your time.

-No problem. -Can you talk now?

I want to ask one thing. What you wrote
today...

contains important new evidence.

So I would like to use it in court.

But we must say that it's a testimony
from the doorman who worked there at the
time.

If we say that in court...

It is a public hearing,

so the media and others present will
hear it.

This could lead to problems for you.

But I am asking you now,

because tomorrow is my only chance to
inform the judges about the matter.

Is there anything in what I have said

that you would worry about?

I want to do everything to help you.

You are allowed to disclose my name.

Nothing can compare to the suffering you
have endured.

I am not worried about anything. Feel
free to use my name.

I am willing to testify even if the
hotel tries to stop me.

As I said before...

The penalties for sexual offenses are
too mild.

I have always thought that it was wrong.

I never believed that I would get this
opportunity.

I want you to be happy that I worked
that evening.

I am personally glad for that.

People take such crimes too lightly.

-Thank you very much. -You're welcome.

I am so grateful for your determination.

I really appreciate it. Thank you.

-Take care. Goodbye. -Goodbye.

December 18, 2019

The day of the ruling in the district
court in Tokyo

With her civil case, Shiori wanted to
break open the black box.

It's not just one person's problem, but
a societal problem.

Today we finally get a verdict.

Rape is a mother's worst nightmare.

After the press conference

the whole family, including her
siblings, was against it all.

I hope for a positive outcome, so that
the family can reunite.

VICTORY

We won! Thank you, everyone!

There she is!

Congratulations!

Can you tell us how it feels?

Honestly, I don't know what I feel.

But when I came out, I received a hug
from my friend.

It's a kind of closure.

But the victory doesn't mean that what
happened will disappear.

I still have to...

...figure out how to cope with my
wounds. This is not the end.

This is a milestone, but there is still
so much left to do.

Let us together think of each one of
them.

What I see in front of me today is
something completely different than
before. Thank you, everyone!

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr.
Yamaguchi to the stage.

You have clearly stated that you have
not done anything illegal.

But when you look back on that night, is
there anything you regret?

Do you wish you had done something
differently?

Did you make any mistakes, even if you
perhaps didn't break the law?

I want to be clear that I did not commit
any crime.

That is the most important thing.

But if I talk about something other than
the purely legal aspects

it can lead to misunderstandings.

If I say that I regret it, a journalist
might interpret that as something
illegal.

But I really regret what happened.

She has suffered a lot.

She has experienced so much...

...PTSD. And I have too, so it is a very
regrettable incident.

And I regret a lot on an ethical level.

But I still have to assert that I did
not do anything illegal.

Is that sufficient as an answer?

I will translate the key points...

Yamaguchi appealed the decision. My
legal battles continued.

Liar!

You profit from the misfortune of
others!

How dare you? You are behaving like an
idol!

Investigator A stayed with the Tokyo
police.

The porter got to keep his job at the
Sheraton.

Nakamura, who interrupted the arrest,

became the chief of Japan's national
police.

On July 8, 2022

former Prime Minister Abe was shot
during a campaign meeting.

Yamaguchi was the first to report on his
death.

On the same day, the Supreme Court
confirmed my victory in the district
court.

This song again!

What is this?

Your hair!

It took so long.

I was 25 and now I'm 33!

It's the end of an era.

- An era? - It's true!

You made it.

Dedicated to all survivors.