Why a Japanese Oscar Contender Isn't Being Shown in Japan
A film by a Japanese woman about her search for justice from uncooperative authorities after she reported being raped is a contender at Sunday's Academy Awards. Yet, despite being the first full-length documentary made by a Japanese director ever nominated for an Oscar, the movie cannot be seen in her home country.
In the film, 'Black Box Diaries,' the journalist Shiori Ito tells the story of what happened to her after she reported being raped at a hotel by a prominent television journalist and the ordeal she says she experienced with Japan's justice system.
The film, which is up for best documentary feature, premiered in January 2024 at the Sundance Film Festival. It was released in U.S. theaters in October and can currently be seen or is slated to be shown in over 30 countries. However, those do not include Japan.
The Japanese subsidiary of a major streaming service declined to distribute the film in early 2024, the filmmakers said, and theaters have so far displayed little interest in showing it. The prospects for the film's release grew even murkier in October when Ms. Ito's former lawyers and other previous supporters, including fellow journalists, spoke up against her, saying she had used footage without the consent of people in it.
This is not the first time that Japan has balked at showing unflattering films that were well received in Hollywood. 'The Cove,' a documentary about a dolphin hunt in the town of Taiji, and 'Unbroken,' a feature film about cruel treatment of Allied prisoners during World War II, both opened at least a year after their U.S. premieres. 'The Cove,' which was made by an American director, won the Oscar for best documentary feature in 2010.
Ms. Ito says that 'Black Box Diaries' is running into resistance, despite having a Japanese director, because it shines a light on a topic normally kept in the shadows: how the legal system and society, more broadly, look unfavorably on women who come forward to say they were sexually assaulted.
'This film is not just about sexual violence. It's about power, corruption and systemic problems,' Ms. Ito said. 'I am making many people uncomfortable, that's for sure.'
Ms. Ito, 35, has been a polarizing figure since she came forward in 2017 to say that she was raped while unconscious by the journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi after an evening of drinking over dinner. Mr. Yamaguchi, who was the biographer of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, denied the charges, and a criminal case was dropped by prosecutors after two months.
Ms. Ito won a civil suit against him for damages in a ruling that was upheld by Japan's Supreme Court.
The case made her a symbol of Japan's still underdeveloped #MeToo movement, while critics have accused her of grandstanding to advance her career.
'There is a tendency in Japanese society to avoid talking about hot-button issues,' said Atsushi Funahashi, a film director. 'I believe this film should become a catalyst to ensure that no woman ever has to go through this kind of painful experience again.'
The stress of all the attention appeared to take its toll on Ms. Ito. On Feb. 20, she canceled a Tokyo news conference at the last minute, citing medical reasons. A limited screening of an edited version of her film was also scrapped.
A group of lawyers, including those who had represented her in the civil suit, held their own news conference the same day to reiterate their concerns with the film. They said 'Black Box Diaries' uses video and audio of a taxi driver, a police detective and one of the lawyers without those individuals' permission.
They also faulted Ms. Ito for including footage of herself being dragged out of a taxi by Mr. Yamaguchi when they arrived at the hotel. The footage from a security camera was used without the hotel's permission, said the lawyers, who demanded that it and other scenes be deleted or greatly altered.
'I must now speak out against someone whom I fought alongside for so many years,' one of the lawyers, Yoko Nishihiro, said. 'How miserable is this.'
In a statement released after canceling her news conference, Ms. Ito apologized for 'causing harm' by not obtaining consent and said she is making a modified version of the film 'to ensure that individuals cannot be identified.'
At the same time, there are scenes that Ms. Ito and the film's producers say they are unwilling to cut. One of these is the security camera footage from the hotel, which Ms. Ito said was 'the only visual proof of the sexual assault.'
Eric Nyari, a producer of the film, said they were trying to negotiate a version of the film that could address the criticisms regarding privacy while still exposing what happened.
'There are certain areas where we are meeting concerns,' Mr. Nyari said, 'but there are certain areas where we believe we're in the right and we are not going to change.'
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Beyond his screen work, he is also a dedicated advocate for disaster relief and children's health, using his influence to make a positive impact through his One De Palma's career is a study of bold stylistic innovation and narrative daring. With landmark films such as 'Carrie,' 'Scarface,' 'Blow Out' and 'The Untouchables,' De Palma has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices of the New Hollywood era. Often compared to Hitchcock for his suspense techniques and voyeuristic themes, De Palma carved out a niche defined by operatic violence, long tracking shots, and psychological depth. That type of genius should be rewarded. Ed Harris is a four-time Oscar nominee whose commanding presence and emotional depth have made him one of the most respected character actors in the film industry. 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As he nears 90, we should honor the legacy of a musician who has had such a profound Schwarzenegger's journey from Austrian bodybuilder to global action star is one of the most improbable and iconic in Hollywood history. With performances in films like 'The Terminator,' 'Predator,' 'Total Recall,' and 'True Lies,' Schwarzenegger became synonymous with blockbuster filmmaking in the '80s and '90s. He also brought surprising humor and warmth to comedies such as 'Twins' and 'Kindergarten Cop.' Off-screen, he served two terms as California's governor, proving his influence extended far beyond cinema. Though never nominated for an Oscar, his impact on action cinema, physical performance and the global film market is recognize the master of body horror. David Cronenberg is a trailblazer of psychological and body horror that makes you squirm in your seat. 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Also an acclaimed stage actor and director, Malkovich has long pushed artistic boundaries across Fishburne's powerful voice and magnetic presence have made him a commanding figure in film, television and theater for more than four decades. He became the youngest person ever cast in a Broadway production at age 12 and later delivered iconic performances in 'Boyz n the Hood,' 'What's Love Got to Do with It,' 'The Matrix' trilogy and 'Mystic River.' Fishburne is also a Tony and Emmy winner, a producer, and a champion for African American stories. Despite being nominated once for an Oscar, he has never won — a surprising oversight given the scope and consistency of his filmmaker Mike Leigh is renowned for his improvisational approach to filmmaking, which allows characters and narratives to evolve collaboratively with his actors. The result is deeply human, often heartbreaking cinema, as seen in films like 'Secrets & Lies,' 'Vera Drake,' and 'Another Year.' Leigh's ability to capture everyday struggles with authenticity has made him one of the most respected voices in world cinema. His influence can be felt in the work of countless independent filmmakers. It's time for his unique contribution to be recognized with an Honorary Grier broke barriers in the 1970s as the undisputed queen of Blaxploitation cinema, headlining action-driven films like 'Coffy,' 'Foxy Brown' and 'Sheba, Baby' at a time when few Black women were cast as leads — let alone action heroes. Her raw presence, strength and charisma challenged Hollywood norms and inspired a generation of actors and filmmakers. Later, she garnered critical acclaim for her starring role in Quentin Tarantino's 'Jackie Brown,' which revealed the depth of her talent and led to a career resurgence. Grier's cultural impact and trailblazing legacy make her a compelling candidate for a trip to the Governors is no 1990s without Jim Carrey. 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Beyond acting, Crystal's contributions as a writer and director, including the touching 'Mr. Saturday Night,' display his multifaceted talent. Although never nominated for an Oscar, he has been a constant presence in American pop culture for over four Scott is one of Hollywood's undeniable masters of science fiction, with an unadulterated visual flair that permeates each film he helms. The British director has been bringing his vision to our movie screens for over 50 years. Scott's dances with the Academy have brought him to four ceremonies as a nominee. For best director, he's picked up mentions for 'Thelma & Louise' (1991), 'Gladiator' (2000) and 'Black Hawk Down' (2001), while he also scored one for best picture as a producer for 'The Martian' (2015). He's never won at any ceremony. But that's not all that makes him worthy of being honored. 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Dolores Hope Bob Hope lived to be 100, but his wife, Dolores, managed to outlive him. She died in 2011 at the age of 102. While Dolores didn't publicly share theories on how she made it to triple-digits, her daughters had their own ideas. Her oldest daughter, Linda (who's now in her 90s herself), told ABC7 in 2009: "Laugh a lot. Laughter is something that's been part of our lives, and I have to think that is a large part responsible for their happiness and for their long lives." Olivia de Havilland The "Gone with the Wind" star lived to be an impressive 104 years old. She died in July 2020. De Havilland, in addition to crediting the "three Ls" (love, laughter, and light) with her longevity, told Vanity Fair in 2016 that she kept her mind sharp by doing The New York Times crossword every single day. In a 2022 study published in the journal NEJM Evidence, 107 adults with mild cognitive impairment were asked to do an intensive program of web-based crossword puzzles or games for 12 weeks, followed by booster sessions up to 78 weeks. The authors found that 37% of participants in the crossword groups improved by two points on an Alzheimer's scale. Kirk Douglas The Hollywood icon and star of films such as "Spartacus" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" lived to 103. He died in February 2020. Douglas wrote an essay for Newsweek in 2008, when he was 91, about growing old. "Humor helps longevity," he wrote. "Try to think of others, try to help them. You will be amazed how that lessens your depression. That satisfaction is priceless," he added. "The greatest dividend to old age is the discovery of the true meaning of love." Gloria Stuart Much like her "Titanic" character Rose, Stuart lived to become a centenarian, briefly. She turned 100 in July 2010 and died two months later. As her 1999 memoir, "I Just Kept Hoping," suggests, Stuart used her career to fuel her into her old age. "I was driven then [in the 1930s], and I'm driven now," she told SF Gate at the time. After Stuart's death in 2010, NPR host Ari Shapiro added, "Her daughter says that during her long life, her mother did not believe in illness. She paid no attention to it, and it served her well." Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother The Queen Mother died in 2002 at the age of 101. Clearly, longevity runs in the family, as her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, lived to be 96 before dying in September 2022. The Queen Mother had some frank advice for living a long life. In her official biography, she said, "'Wouldn't it be terrible if you'd spent all your life doing everything you were supposed to do, didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't eat things, took lots of exercise, and suddenly, one day, you were run over by a big red bus and, as the wheels were crunching into you, you'd say, 'Oh my God, I could have got so drunk last night.' That's the way you should live your life, as if tomorrow you'll be run over by a big red bus." George Burns The vaudeville star and comedian knew people would be curious about how to live to 100, so he decided to write the book "How To Live To Be 100 Or More." Burns, who died in March 1996 at 100 years old, told UPI Hollywood, "You'll be happier and live longer if you find a job you love; that way you avoid stress. Never take stress to bed with you. Work on it in the morning." He also confirmed that he did 45 minutes of exercise every day before taking a "brisk 15-minute walk around the neighborhood." He also had "two or three drinks a day" and always had a cigar close by (though, according to him, he never inhaled). He steered clear of cigarettes, however. Being active is linked to living longer in better health. A 2022 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that of 99,713 participants aged 55 to 74, those who did regular aerobic exercise and strength training were 41% less likely to die from any cause in the seven to 10 years after. "I don't believe a lot of this medical stuff. They say everything you eat and drink causes cancer. Don't pay too much attention to that," Burns added. Eva Marie Saint Saint, the oldest living and earliest surviving Oscar winner, will turn 101 in July 2025. "I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends," she told People ahead of her 100th birthday last year.
