The timeline of Shiori Ito [2017] Jul-Dec
Ms. Ito and Mr. Yuta Okamura in the second half of 2017 in chronological order. The sources are colored as followed:
Her book "Black Box"➡
Media coverage➡
Posts on social media➡
My comments will be indicated by 💡, actions of Ms. Ito by 🔴, actions of Mr. Yamaguchi by 🔵, and actions of Mr. Okamura by 💛.
July
Jul 11-12: 💛Mr. Okamura, shooting an American program on Tennis Channel called "Advantage Omar London"【London】
💡"Advantage Omar" is an American Tennis Channel program that Mr. Okamura played the lead editor and director of photography. Available on YouTube.
7月 🔴Migrated to England after being invited by a women's human rights group in London saying, "Why don't you stay in a safe place?"【London】[Source]
🔴Went to Sweden and saw how they tackle sexual violence there.【Sweden】[Source]
💡Has Ms. Ito really migrated to the UK?
As I mentioned a little in the previous post, I assume that Ms. Ito exaggerates that she "migrated to the UK after being invited by a women's human rights group in London" From her patterns so far, she often distorts the facts for her convenience.
What actually happened was probably like this. In the summer of 2017, Ms. Ito became acquainted with Erica Jenkin and Hanna Aqvilin (both live in London), who later filmed the BBC2 documentary about Ms. Ito "Japan's Secret Shame" together in the fall-winter of 2017. They became good friends and Ms. Ito was told, "Whenever you come to London, You can stay in my guest room. Think of it as you have your own room in London!" or something like that.
Basis ① Ms. Ito's room in the BBC documentary filmed in the fall or winter 2017 has her clothes and other items left as they are, and it does not look like she had "migrated in the summer of 2017." Looking at the video taken on May 7th, you can see that it is the same room shown in the BBC film.
👇In the video taken on May 7, 2017, you can see it's the same room from the background.
Basis ② It must be a "long-term stay" if she was "migrated", but in order to stay in the UK for a long time, as in other developed countries, it is necessary to pass the strict visa acquisition process (To begin with, the whole incident with Mr. Yamaguchi happened because it's so hard for her to obtain the visa in the US.)
The types of visas that foreigners can obtain for long-term stays in the UK include investor visa, entrepreneur visa, global talent visa, long-term work visas, short-term work visas, etc.
It can't be a family visa that Ms. Ito has. Also, an investor visa and an entrepreneur visa require proof of funds. Ms. Ito was renting her room on a private lodging site, it means she didn't have the funds. And a global talent visa is given to "talented and promising individuals in specific sectors." In the summer of 2017, she wasn't globally famous yet, so not applicable.
You need to be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply for a general work visa. She claims herself as a freelance journalist, so not applicable. The “charity worker visa” might be the only possibility, but this is a visa for unpaid voluntary work in the UK sponsored by a charity group licensed by the UK government. She was working appearing in various media, plus this visa allows you to stay only up to 12 months, so not applicable either.
Naoko Hashimoto, working on refugee and forced migration issues for the past 15 years, wrote this in Huff Post.
I do not know the details of Ms. Shiori Ito's personal migration course, but generally, in such a case, it is possible that the UK government accepts her under "Humanitarian Protection System."
The humanitarian protection system in the UK gives a permit to stay to those who do not apply to the definition of refugees as stated in the 1951 Convention, but there is a “real risk of serious harm” if they return to their home country.
If the UK government accepts a Japanese woman who has been bashed online because she openly accused someone of sexual violence under the "Humanitarian Protection" system, wouldn't British people say something about it? I certainly wouldn't be silent.
Then with what visa is she staying in the UK? With the standard visitor visa, you can stay for up to a maximum of 180 days within a 12 month period. It's one of the longest in the developed countries. Perhaps Ms. Ito just frequently enters and leaves the UK with a tourist visa and stays at a friend's house.
Basis ③ Ms. Ito has been continuously living in the room which was shown in the BBC documentary as I introduced above, still now.
This photo, posted on the crowdfunding page of her documentary "My beautiful dying city, Yubari," was taken around the end of 2018 (presumed by the length of her hair.) You can see that it's the same room as the one in the BBC documentary by looking at the kitchen in the back.
Also, recently, in March 2020, a video about "sexual agreement" that Ms. Ito narrated was released. The pictures in the BuzzFeed article introducing the video show that she is still living in the same room still now. (Photographed by Yuta Okamura)
Basis ④ I will explain this later again, but in May 2019, Ms. Ito made a reservation for a private room (sharing the house with the host) in London on a private lodging site. The review from the host says "I enjoyed meeting Shiori and her partner." I'm sure she stayed with Mr. Okamura, but if she had moved to London and had her own room, she wouldn't need to book another shared room to stay with her boyfriend.
For the above reasons, I think Ms. Ito did not migrate to the UK in the first place, but simply she now has a friend (or friends) who has a guest room in their apartment in London. But recently, due to Coronavirus, she is stuck in Japan because "it has become difficult to return to London."
👆Appeared in a web program "ROSE EYE" broadcasted on April 14, 2020. She joined from her house using Skype. You can tell from the background that she's in the same room.
August
Aug 23-27: 💛Mr. Okamura filmed "Advantage Omar New York City"【NY】
September
Sep 21: Tokyo Sixth Committee for the Public Inquest of Prosecution judged the case as "non-prosecutable"
🔴Ms. Ito was being filmed for the BBC2 documentary "Japan's Secret Shame"【Tokyo】
Sep 23: 🔵 Mr. Yamaguchi posted a comment on Facebook regarding the "non-prosecutable" decision of the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution
[The decision of non-prosecutable was made]
As many people are aware of in various media reports, the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution decided “non-prosecutable” regarding the case in which the female individual lodged a complaint on May 29th in response to the decision of no indictment issued in July last year.
By this, the case is completely closed and confirmed the indictment.
Although I refrained from offering information until the indictment was finalized based on various judgments, many people sent messages of encouragement and support while keeping silent. Thank you again for your support.
On the other hand, during the same period, there were quite a few media, politicians, reporters, and commentators who repeatedly made the assertion that I was a criminal. In the noise that is not based on the facts, I am relieved that 11 judges, who were selected from the general public, carefully examined all the evidence and testimony, and as a result, the indictment was confirmed.
I learned a lot from this turmoil. I would like to promote verification and learning with everyone while gradually releasing information.
Sep 28: 🔴Ms. Ito filed a civil lawsuit to the Tokyo District Court
October
Oct 08: 💛Mr. Okamura attended San Diego Film Festival【LA】
Documentary "Resistance Is Life" which he participated as an editor won an award
Oct 18: 🔴Published "Black Box" from Bungei Shunju publisher and announced it on Facebook
👆THE TRUTH IS HERE. "Non-prosecutable". What is the decision of the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution based on? A journalist who suffered from rape asks the world. The law and the investigation, and the current state of society.
Oct 20: 🔵Mr. Yamaguchi posted a comment on Facebook appealing for Weekly Shincho's "fabrications" and "distortions" in their coverage
[Weekly Shincho's "fabrications" and "distortions" in their coverage]
In this week's issue of Weekly Shincho, I contacted the researcher Ms. Green, who appeared in their article.
She is very surprised and indignant after reading the article in Weekly Shincho.
● What I didn't say at all was put in quotations and written as if I had said it (fabrication)
● It is written in the article by twisting the intention of my statements (distortion)
● Even though I repeatedly appealed my opinion as a professional researcher that the interpretation of the official document that there were comfort stations for the Korean Army (at the time of the Vietnam War) was correct, the reporters of Weekly Shincho continued claiming it must be a fabrication.She is planning to present where and how her statements were fabricated and distorted specifically, as well as to send a letter of protest to Shinchosha Publishing, regarding their reporters fabricated and distorted her statements and made a forcible interview to write an article that called my article as "fabricated."
Weekly Shincho has continued to publish countless slanderous articles about me since this May, but with Ms. Green's testimony this time, once again it shows that their coverage is full of malice, fabrication, and distortion.
The opponent is a large publisher, but now that I have received this much malicious attack, I will continue to fight firmly. I would appreciate your support and advice.
Oct 23: 🔴Press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ)【Tokyo】
Oct 26: 🔵Mr. Yamaguchi published an article in "Monthly Hanada" titled "To Ms. Shiori Ito, who sued me"
Oct 27: 🔵Mr. Yamaguchi announced on Facebook that he restarted the journalist activity
[Greetings: I will restart the journalist activity]
In May, a woman named Shiori Ito took a judicial action based on "a claim that is completely different from the facts", and after a variety of judgments, I refrained from activities as a reporter. However, Ms. Ito's allegation was rejected by the decision of the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution last month as "non-prosecutable", and the case was completely ended as a criminal case. In response to this, I have decided to officially resume press activities. As the first activity of restart as a journalist, I contributed to two monthly magazines released yesterday (10/26). Both magazines are available at most bookstores nationwide.
● Monthly Hanada “To Ms. Shiori Ito who sued me”
● Monthly Will “Unveiling of the eve of dissolution -Prime Minister Abe's dark solitude”In Monthly Hanada, I logically explain my assertion about this case.
In Monthly Will, I report about the situation in North Korea which I investigated during the silence period, along with the state of internal affairs such as the snap general election.I am honored if you let me hear your opinions on the articles above and others. Criticism is also welcome. However, please refrain from asserting based on false grounds, making unfounded judgments, or slanderous acts against others. Thank you for your cooperation.
Oct 28: 🔵Appeared on the online program of Editor Kazuyoshi Hanada "A little leaning toward the right ..."
Oct 29: 🔵Mr. Yamaguchi posted on Facebook to tell his father fainted and was hospitalized urgently
【Apology】
My old father was urgently hospitalized.
Since a woman named Shiori Ito held a press conference in May, my family has received countless swear words, slanderous emails and postcards. Weekly Shincho continued to write articles of slander that deny my personality over and over again. And there have been countless coverages on television, newspapers, and magazines, accepting Ms. Shiori Ito's claim blindly, calling me a criminal. On October 18, Ms. Shiori Ito's book, in which she repeatedly wrote the claims rejected by the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution because they were completely different from the facts, was released by a major publisher. My family was exposed to high levels of stress for nearly half a year. In the end, my old father who is over 80 years old collapsed yesterday.
Before he fainted, he lamented, "Why does media out there assert you as a criminal even after the Committee's decision?"
Also, at a press conference held by Ms. Shiori Ito on October 24, a TBS caster Shigenori Kanehira said, "I'm so angry. I can't understand." My father trembled with anger and said, "Did that Kanehira guy interview you? Are all your TBS colleagues just like that? "
Also, regarding the article written by a journalist, Isoko Mochizuki, of the Tokyo Shimbun Newspapers that only introduced Ms. Shiori Ito's claim, my father asked me, "Why none of your statement is mentioned here?" I haven't received any interviews or inquiries from either Kanehira or Mochizuki, so I had no choice but to look down. Mochizuki, in the interview article published in July, revealed the profession of my old father who was completely unrelated to this case, and scattered misinformation that was not true.
For self-proclaimed journalists who seem to support Ms. Shiori Ito's human rights, such as Kanehira and Mochizuki, the human rights of me and my aged parents may not be worth considering.
Tonight, my old father sleeps alone with his stress-worn organs in a bare, cold hospital. What on earth is it that's torturing an 83-year-old man who came out of the countryside of Nagasaki and worked hard for 60 years to reach the last stage of his life? There is no doubt that my parents would not have undergone this unspeakable suffering if they had not born me and raised me.
I will never forget the color of a large amount of fresh blood from my father's internal organs. I've never been a filial son. This time, I'm really sorry to drive my old parents into an even harsher environment.
I received a lot of encouragement and opinions regarding the announcement of the resumption of press activities. My father collapsed while I was replying to your messages in a happy mood after a long absence. I'm really sorry for the delay in replying to the encouragement I received, but for now, please let me prioritize my father's care and my mother's support. I will inform you when thing are calm down. I appreciate your understanding.
December
Dec 02: 💛Mr. Okamura filmed a mountain cyclist specializing in Four-cross, Anneke Beerten【LA】
💡He made a film for Olympus OM-D and the video was uploaded to YouTube the following year.
Mr. Okamura speaking in the making video
Dec 05: 🔴The first oral pleading of the civil trial【Tokyo】Filming for the BBC2 documentary
👆Ms. Ito singing Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive" in a taxi on the way to the court
Dec 12: 🔴Live appearance on a TV personality's radio program【Tokyo】
Dec 16: 🔴Attended the third meeting of the bipartisan group to examine the issue of suspension of execution of the arrest warrant for the quasi-rape case【Tokyo】
In response to Ms. Ito's claim that the arrest warrant against Mr. Yamaguchi was suspended by an order from above on the verge of execution, several members of the opposition parties gathered and formed the above group.
On Nov 21, the first hearing was held from the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Justice at the Diet members' office building, the second hearing on Nov 27th, and then the third on Dec 16 as above, and finally the fourth on Feb 15, 2018. However, there was nothing that Ms. Ito and the opposition parties gained in the end, except the fact that the arrest won't take place sometimes regardless of whether with or without an arrest warrant or the timing of execution.
Dec 17: 🔴Shared the link to BBC interview audio on Facebook【London】
Dec 24: 🔴Shared the coverage of herself on a newspaper in Sweden on Facebook【Sweden】
Dec 30: 🔴Shared the New York Times article written by Ms. Motoko Rich on Facebook
* She spent the New Year holidays in London
💡That 2017 for Ms. Ito and the people surrounding her. For Ms. Ito, 2017 was a memorable year in which her name and face spread all over the world, including the realization of a press conference, was interviewed by many press outlets, and was filmed for a BBC documentary.
Ms. Ito explains the reason why she moved to England in the summer of 2017: "Rape is a taboo topic in Japan and it has a strong stigma against rape victims, so I got backlash, online harassment and threats for my life and in the end, I had to move to London away from my family." [France 24]
But she had spent most of her adult life abroad, away from her family in the first place. Just three months after returning to Japan due to the expiration of the student visa, she sent an e-mail to Mr. Yamaguchi asking him to arrange a job and a work visa in Washington D.C. Wasn't it the beginning of the incident? She even uses the "living in overseas" thing which she had hoped as a tool to attract sympathy like, "I'm a poor person who had to move to another country because of criticism."
Ms. Ito is not the only one who's being criticized. Some of the mean comments against Yamaguchi are even more severe than those against Ms. Ito. Despite the decision of the prosecutor not to indict, and the decision of the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, which consists of 11 randomly selected citizens, as non-prosecutable, the media and the public continue to criticize him as the perpetrator. It seems they think any kind of inhumane abuse is permissible to a dirty rapist. On the other hand, the voice of doubt against Ms. Ito about her behavior is labeled as a "second rape" and accused of not being humane. Even though there's no evidence that Ms. Ito is really a victim.
As you probably know, Amber Heard accused Johnny Depp of domestic violence when divorcing him in 2016. Recently, the conversation audios of the two were leaked, and it was revealed that not only Amber most likely lied that she was abused by Johnny, but she was the one who abused him.
There are many similarities between Amber Heard and Shiori Ito. For example, after Amber accused Johnny of domestic violence, she became an outspoken advocate for women and sexual minorities. She has been active as one of the Human Rights Champions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, such as a trip to Jordan to meet Syrian refugees. She has also appeared in a video titled "Speak up" (now deleted).
Amber's allegations in the December 2018 Washington Post article are strikingly similar to Shiori Ito's, almost the same.
In this article, Amber claims, "I want to ensure that women who come forward to talk about violence receive more support." But many have doubted the credibility of her since she claimed to have been abused by Johnny (and they were right), and the criticisms she received came from her false allegation in the end. The situation is remarkably similar to Ms. Shiori Ito's case.
In the next post, we will see the first half of 2018 when Ms. Ito finally started to act in line with Mr. Okamura.
You can click the link below to see the Japanese version of this post.
