As a journalist, this is a drum I’ve been banging for a while, so it was imperative that I came forward and spoke about my own ordeal.”įacing a packed press room at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo last May, Ito said she met up with influential TBS journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi at a sushi restaurant on Apto speak about a job opportunity. After 110 years, finally some changes were made to the rape laws, which was a start, but more changes are needed and the reality is that until we engage in more open dialogue about this issue, no significant progress will be made. Sexual violence is all around us, yet remains a taboo topic in this country. I’m not trying to sling mud at the perpetrator. “It’s killing me sitting here having to relive the whole experience, but staying quiet and being patient isn’t going to help. “People have told me how brave I’ve been talking about this openly, but it’s something I felt I had to do, and this was the only option I had left,” Ito recently told Weekender. Shiori Ito Breaks Silence About Sexual Violence in Japan

For the young freelance journalist, however, that simply wasn’t an option. The easier option would have been to drop the claim, take the compensation money and never speak about what happened again. Convictions were rare and speaking out about it could damage not only her own career, but also the lives of members of her family. As more women around the world are going public about the sexual assault they’ve endured, journalist Shiori Ito has become one of the few brave voices to speak out from Japan.Īfter accusing a former Washington bureau chief from Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) of quasi-rape (a term in Japanese law that refers to having sex with a woman by taking advantage of loss of consciousness or inability to resist), Shiori Ito was told the case wasn’t worth pursuing.

Shiori ito