The timeline of Shiori Ito [2015-before the incident]
I am now going to explain what happened in 2015 when the incident occurred in chronological order. There is so much content in 2015, I have decided to divide it into multiple posts. The sources are colored as follows:
Her book "Black Box"➡
Media coverage➡
Posts on social media➡
Court documents➡
My comments will be indicated by 💡. the actions of Ms. Ito by 🔴, and the actions of Mr. Yamaguchi with 🔵.
2015 (Age 26)
I have already stated in my previous post that Ms. Ito returned to Japan at the end of December without graduating from a college in New York probably because her student visa was expiring. Several photos of Ms. Ito before she started working as an intern at Reuters in February have been posted on her friends' social media.
Jan-04,05: 🔴Ski trip with friends
Around Jan-20: 🔴Party with several friends
👆The caption says, "Shiori's moved back from NY!"
At a dinner with Mr. Yamaguchi, she allegedly said, "If it's wine, I can drink quite a lot." She surely seems to like wine.
February: 🔴Started an internship at Reuters
She worked as an unpaid intern at Reuters Tokyo for two months. [source]
Mar-03: 🔴Published an article on Reuters about LGBT Equality (as an additional reporter)
Mar-25 (Wed): 🔴Sent an email to Mr. Yamaguchi
Her book says, she finished her internship and signed a freelance contract with Reuters headquarters in Singapore. However, her parents opposed and asked her to be employed by a company and work for at least two years. So she decided to ask for an internship at the TBS Washington bureau first and then to aim for being hired locally, in order to reassure her parents and to work in the environment that suited her at the same time.
💡She was only able to sign up as a freelancer at Reuters after working as an intern. That's the reality her parents must have been worried about, but going to the U.S. and starting over as an intern at the TBS Washington bureau and aiming to be hired locally? It'd make the parents even more worried. And what about money? Had she saved enough money to immigrate to the US for just three months while still working as an intern?
At that time, she also received an offer from CNN Tokyo for internships. In an interview with BBC radio in October 2018, she said, "I wasn't sure if I wanted to work in Japanese media but I was interested in working outside of Japan or foreign media in Japan." So it's highly possible that she emailed Mr. Yamaguchi just wanting to work in the US, not to reassure her parents.
She emailed Mr. Yamaguchi after six months from the last contact, remembering his words, "If it's in the TBS Washington bureau, you can work as an intern whenever you want."
Mr. Yamaguchi,
It's been a while. How are you? Thank you for introducing me to Nippon TV for the intern job last year.
In parallel with my last push at school, I was able to cultivate a very valuable experience.
I am currently an intern in the TV news department at Reuters in Tokyo. I also received an offer from CNN Tokyo for an internship. My experience in New York is helping me a lot. Again, thank you very much. I really appreciate it.
I remember you once told me I could work as an intern at the Washington bureau whenever I wanted. Is it still valid? Lol
I am currently hunting for a job seriously. If there are any available positions, it'd be nice if you could let me know. It would be great if we could meet when you're back in Tokyo.
Shiori Ito
💡The words highlighted in purple are omitted in her book "Black Box." Not only did she omit the fact that she suggested the meeting in Tokyo first, but she also did not mention that the email shown in the book was a partially edited version. Isn't this a malicious attempt to manipulate the impressions of the readers? From now on, parts of emails omitted from Ms. Ito's book will be highlighted in purple.
Mr. Yamaguchi replied immediately on that day.
Ms. Ito,
As an intern, you'll be hired right away. Even as a producer (paid), If you are serious, I will seriously consider it. Please let me know!
19:25pm (06:25am in EDT)
Mr. Yamaguchi,
Thank you for your prompt reply! I'm serious! I would like to apply for a position as a producer. Would you please consider it?
Thank you in advance!
Shiori,
I guess you're serious. Then I'll seriously consider it.
Please write your resume in Japanese and send it by PDF or fax. And, do you have a visa?
When it comes to a new producer, I have to get permission from TBS International Head Office about hiring and conditions. This will take a considerable amount of time.
Or you can come here first and sign up as a freelancer, work for a while and then aim for full-time employment. Doing it this way, I can give permission.
Let me think about what I can do.
22:17pm (09:17am in EDT)
Mar-26(Thu): 🔵"Weekly Bunshun" magazine that published an article about South Korean comfort women centers during the Vietnam War written by Mr. Yamaguchi was released. The views he expressed in this article are considered by most media outlets as politically right-of-center.
Mar-27(Fri):
Mr. Yamaguchi,
Otsukare sama desu. I am attaching my resume in Japanese, please consider it.
Shiori Ito
20:17pm (07:17am in EDT)
💡On the resume which Ms. Ito sent to Mr. Yamaguchi at this time, she wrote, "If I can do a job related to the news, I don't mind any type of employment, the start time, or the period of work." In other words, Ms. Ito wrote herself, "It doesn't matter whether the job is a producer or an intern." Nevertheless, she skillfully edits her email partially in the book and makes it seem as if Mr. Yamaguchi is talking about hiring her as a producer.
Mar-28(Sat):
Ms. Ito,
I received your resume. Thank you. The biggest problem is the visa. We can also support you with TBS, so we will consider it.
By the way, I'm going back to Japan temporarily to go on an errand. Will you be in Tokyo next week?
17:31pm (04:31am in EDT)
Mr. Yamaguchi,
Thank you for your reply. I know the VISA is the difficult part to deal with. It'd be great if you could consider it.
Yes, I'll be in Tokyo next week! I'm sure you'll be busy since it's a temporary stay. If you have time, I'd love to see you!
21:44pm (08:44am in EDT)
Mar-29(Sun):
Ms. Shiori,
I checked a bit, and the company has supported hiring some staff members in the branch office before.
Is there a free night in the latter half of next week?
14:26pm (01:26am in EDT)
Mr. Yamaguchi,
Thank you for checking. I'm glad I can have some hope!
I'm available those nights! It'd be great if you could tell me a convenient date for you.
23:29pm (10:29am in EDT)
Mar-30(Mon):
All right. Then can you keep Friday open for me? I'll buy you dinner.
01:31am (12:31pm the day before in EDT)
Mr. Yamaguchi,
All right! I'll leave it open on April 3! Please let me know when you decide the time.
09:52am (20:52pm the day before in EDT)
🔵Mr. Yamaguchi returned to Japan for the inquiry at TBS on the contribution to "Weekly Bunshun."
Apr-01(Wed):
Ms. Shiori,
I think it will be around 7 pm on Friday. Is there anything you can't eat?
Also, please read the article that I contributed in the Weekly Bunshun that's on sale now. I will contact you again.
16:54pm
Mr. Yamaguchi,
7pm on Friday. Got it. I can eat anything :)
In Weekly Bunshun!? Yes! I'll definitely read it! I'm looking forward to seeing you on Friday then.
21:58pm
💡In her book, Ms. Ito says that she was surprised to see Mr. Yamaguchi alone when they met on April 3 because she had expected other people from TBS to be with him based on the past patterns and the purpose of the meeting. However, in the omitted emails, she said, "It would be great if we could meet when you're back in Tokyo,"and "I'm sure you'll be busy since it's a temporary stay. If you have time, I'd love to see you!" It's hard to believe that she didn't expect to see him alone.
🔴 Published an article on Reuters about lonely death (as an additional reporter)
💡This article is the basis of the documentary "Lonely Death" that Ms. Ito made later with Nicholas Almark. The author is Chris Meyers of Reuters, and Ms. Ito is credited for additional reporting, while Toru Hanai took the photos. When the documentary "Lonely Death" was broadcasted in 2017, Mr. Hanai commented on Ms. Ito's Facebook, "Chris must be proud of you!" (Chris Meyers passed away on August 1st, 2016 after a long battle with an illness.)
👆Hanai: "This is great. Chris must be proud of you!"
Shiori Ito: "Thank you, Mr. Hanai! It took a long time, but it finally took shape :) I remember interviewing with you and Chris just like yesterday."
Apr-02(Thu):
🔴Published an article on Ariana Miyamoto (co-writing with Elaine Lies)
In the next post, we'll move on to April 3rd, the day of the incident.
You can click the link below to see the Japanese version of this post.
