Since ancient times, the status of women in Japan has been inferior to that of men since childhood, and this belief has not been improved to this day, leading many women to choose to swallow their anger after being sexually assaulted.
For them, it is more shameful to speak out about their experience of being sexually assaulted, and it can lead to secondary harm.
Of course, not all Japanese girls will choose to swallow their anger after being violated, and a small number of people will choose to call the police, and the protagonist we are going to talk about today does just that, she is Shiori Ito.
In 2015, Shiori Ito was sexually assaulted by Keiyuki Yamaguchi, the director of TV Tokyo's Washington bureau, and after several reports to no avail, she published the book "Black Box" in October 2017, which recorded the whole process of her assault, which caused a big sensation in Japan.
In that claustrophobic space, sexual assault occurs quietly, and such a place is known as a "black box". When people bravely unveil this "black box", what is shown in front of them is the more unfathomable "black box operation" behind the investigation agency and the judicial system.
Studying abroad, the first time I encountered an assaulter
Shiori Ito was born in an ordinary family in Japan in 1989, she has been tall and beautiful since she was a child, and her personality is also extraordinarily lively and cheerful, and she also has her own unique ideas, which is different from many Japanese girls.
The lives of women in Japan have always been restricted, and in short, they seem to be appendages to men, leaving little room for self-assertion.
In the interweaving of family and society, women often have to follow their husbands' wishes, and it is difficult for them to sail independently like a boat flowing with water.
Against this background, Shiori Ito came up with the idea of studying in the United States, not wanting to become a housewife like most women, but to create a world of her own.
Shiori Ito's family is very ordinary, and it can't provide her with any substantial help on her way to study abroad, but fortunately, she has won many scholarships with excellent grades, and the money saved by scholarships and her previous part-time modeling is enough to support herself to study in the United States.
Shiori Ito's dream was to be a journalist, so she studied journalism at New York University in the United States, and in order to relieve the pressure on her family, she began to work part-time in her spare time in her first year of college to earn money to support her life and studies.
Shiori Ito worked as a waitress at a convenience store in New York, then turned into a bakery and then walked into a tavern......
She sacrificed her days off for her studies, and even in such a tight schedule, she still maintained unremitting efforts, but fortunately, all her efforts paid off.
Just as everything was moving towards the light, a person quietly appeared in her life, this person named Keiyuki Yamaguchi.
While working at a bar, Shiori Ito happened to see Keiyuki Yamaguchi, a Japanese journalist who was the head of the Washington bureau of TBS TV in the United States.
In Shiori Ito's heart, the other party is like a giant in the Japanese press industry, and getting acquainted with such a figure will undoubtedly add a strong touch to his career.
Her eyes flashed with excitement, and her heartbeat accelerated, like a passionate fawn jumping in her chest.
Soon she presented Yamaguchi with a glass of whiskey, lost no time in talking to him, and talked about her journalistic ideals and ardent hopes and plans for the future.
Keiyuki Yamaguchi listened intently, nodding his head in agreement from time to time, and after a few drinks, he took a keen interest in the smart and ambitious girl.
When he was about to leave, he deliberately took out a business card from his wallet and solemnly handed it to Shiori Ito. It's like telling the other party that if there is anything to help me come to, Shiori Ito is very happy that she has met a nobleman.
Since that day, she has been a regular visitor to Yamaguchi's e-mail, constantly asking him about the mysteries of news writing, as well as sharing her confusion about her academic and life journeys.
Keiyuki Yamaguchi has always patiently responded to Shiori Ito with warm words, inspiring her to bravely pursue higher and farther on the road of journalism, and the image of this time is like a mentor that people can admire and trust.
Drugged and sexually assaulted
The four years of college pass like a white horse, and before you know it, the graduation bell has been ringing, and Shiori Ito soon finds herself in a predicament.
Discrimination against Asians in the United States is like an insurmountable wall, and as a helpless international student, it seems unattainable to find a solid career in the bustling city of New York.
In desperation, she had no choice but to return to Japan, but the harsh hierarchy of the Japanese workplace and the distorted ecology of the workplace made Shiori Ito feel uncomfortable, and after only working for a few months, her yearning for the United States was rekindled.
Deep down, Shiori Ito longs to pursue her dreams in that land of freedom, but she knows that it will not be easy. One day, I remembered Keiyuki Yamaguchi, whom I met in New York.
At that time, as the director of the Washington bureau of TBS television, he was undoubtedly the key person who could help him the most.
Soon Ito wrote a letter to the other party, the content of which was also very simple: asking for help, hoping to find a job in the United States.
Yamaguchi quickly wrote back to Shiori Ito, informing her that there were still vacancies for the TV station's intern and producer positions, and inviting her to lunch and discuss the details at an elegant restaurant, in a very friendly tone.
Shiori Ito came to the United States with a lot of anticipation and stepped into the restaurant, and the moment she saw Keiyuki Yamaguchi, she had infinite hopes for the future, but she was unaware of the uncertainties that were coming.
Keiyuki Yamaguchi initially took a humble and gentlemanly attitude, explaining the work of the branch to Ito in detail and warmly welcoming her to join.
Drinking in social situations seems to be the key to success, and Keiyuki Yamaguchi constantly raises a glass to Ito, and rejecting someone else's toast is seen as a great faux pas.
Based on Japan's traditional culture and the consideration of his future work, Ito had no choice but to deal with it frequently.
The alcohol content of the sake is not high, and I drank about 180 ml of sake, but after drinking it, I felt dizzy, and it was obvious that something was in the sake.
Shiori Ito realized that when she was drugged, the effects of the drug had already taken off, and she fainted soon after...... She didn't know what was going on, but when she slowly opened her eyes, she found that she had been placed on the bed, and there was not a single strand of her body.
This scene made her feel stunned for a while, and then she broke down and shouted and cursed, telling Yamaguchi to keep her distance and not come closer.
Obviously, Keiyuki Yamaguchi violated him, and he was still a traitor. Shiori Ito immediately reported the incident to the police after fleeing the hotel and explained her situation, but her accusation did not go well.
The report was blocked by many parties
At the police station, Shiori Ito's figure looked particularly lonely, and the police surrounded her, comforting her with a seemingly practical but helpless tone, and they whispered softly as if the elders were teaching the juniors:
"Miss Ito, why bother in vain? Keiyuki Yamaguchi's influence in the press is like a towering tree, and if you want to continue sailing in the media, you will inevitably have to follow his direction. ”
Although these words inevitably reveal a bit of prevarication, it is difficult to deny it, revealing reality and helplessness between the lines.
Shiori Ito also questioned Keiyuki Yamaguchi directly, but the other party's reaction was unexpectedly cold, as if this was a small matter, even if she made a big fuss, she would not be affected in the slightest, and her calm attitude seemed to be under control.
He also told Shiori Ito that he did not rape her, and that everything that night happened consensually.
Shiori Ito was very angry and found the taxi driver and the hotel staff that night as witnesses, and at this time the fact of Takashi Yamaguchi's rape had been established.
The police clearly told Shiori Ito that he would be arrested, but there was no movement after half a month, and after questioning, he learned that Keiyuki Yamaguchi was an old friend of the Japanese Prime Minister, and the matter was forcibly suppressed by his superiors.
In 2017, Shiori Ito filed a civil lawsuit, demanding that the law be able to judge correctly, but the first thing that awaited was the attack of the Japanese people. They made a series of "victim guilt theories" about Shiori Ito, believing that she was sexually assaulted because of her own indiscretion.
There is no doubt that this is Keiyuki Yamaguchi using his media power to maliciously distort the facts.
Shiori Ito was powerless but did not give up, but turned her pain into the power of her pen to create a shocking book "Black Box".
In this work, she delicately and courageously depicts the hidden truth, and bravely lifts the veil that covers the "shame of sexual assault".
The release of "Black Box" is not only a demonstration of women's tenacity, but also allows those female victims in a male-dominated society to find the courage to speak up for themselves.
Boosted by public opinion, Shiori Ito mentioned the appeal again in 2019, and this time the "superiors" did not dare to commit crimes against the wind again.
After countless days and nights of perseverance and struggle, she finally ushered in the dawn of justice, and the arduous lawsuit finally sounded the clarion call for victory.
In this lawsuit, Ito received only 3.3 million yen, which is about 150,000 yuan, but in her heart, the weight of money is far less than the weight of justice, and what she pursues is only to let the truth be revealed to the world, and to give a clear and honest explanation.
I don't know when the "victim guilt theory" has become more and more common in our lives: "Why didn't she scream?", "Who made her dress so revealing", "Why do you only hurt you and not others", "It's your fault"
Such words make people who are originally very firm in their position doubt their behavior, whether it should be like this, and whether it is so?
As Huang Zhizhong said: People should not be condemned for failing to protect themselves, victims need comfort and help instead of falling stones, and we should condemn the perpetrator rather than the victim.
Nowadays, the rate of sexual assault cases reported around the world is very high, and with the improvement of the system, the success rate of reporting and litigation will also be high, and the perpetrator will eventually be punished accordingly. However, Japan seems to be very different from it.
Japan's data on the frequency of reported sexual assault is conservative, even lower than that of some developed European countries.
Does this really reflect the relatively low incidence of sexual assault cases in Japan? The truth of the facts may lie in a deeper social context.
Shiori Ito used her own experience to criticize the "victim guilt theory", and set an example for Japanese women, and they must stand up bravely when they encounter such things. What do you think differently about this?