Category: Film

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 14, 2025 Number of comments0
Crime Film Japan Sex

Journalist Shiori Ito’s Documentary on Sexual Violence Debuts in Japan

“Black Box Diaries,” an Oscar-nominated film directed by Japanese journalist Shiori Ito documenting her experience after suffering sexual violence, was released in Japan on Friday.   It was screened at overseas film festivals in 2024 and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at this year’s U.S. Academy Awards. Meanwhile, lawyers, including those who helped Ito win a civil lawsuit against the former TV journalist over her sexual abuse case, had criticized the use of hotel security camera images and statements from taxi drivers without permission.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Crime Film Japan Sexual abuse Shiori Ito

Japan Oscar-nominated film to be reedited amid legal concerns

Japanese journalist Shiori Ito, who directed an Academy Award-nominated documentary about her own sexual assault case, said Thursday that she will reedit part of the film to address allegations that the film includes unauthorized content. The documentary, “Black Box Diaries,” has been screened in over 50 overseas countries and regions since its world premiere at a film festival in January last year but not yet in Japan due to legal concerns.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 22, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Film Japan Podcast

Niigata Civic Group Produces Film About People with Disabilities「Voice～あなたの声がききたい～」[Podcast Episode]

A civic group and university students in Higashi Ward, Niigata City, produced a short film “Voice ~ I want to hear your voice ~”. A person involved said, “We hope that this will be an opportunity for people to learn about the real daily life of living together with people with disabilities.” The film collects candid opinions about the image of people with disabilities and asks the question, “What is a disability? The film asks the question, “What is disability? The filmmakers hope that the audience will learn about the real daily lives of people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 21, 2024 1
Barrier Free Disability Film Japan

What is a Disability? Niigata Civic Group and University Students Produces Film About the Lives of People with Disabilities

The Niigata Nippo reported on November 19th that in order to deepen understanding of disabilities, a civic group and university students in Higashi Ward, Niigata City, produced a short film “Voice ~ I want to hear your voice ~”. A person involved said, “We hope that this will be an opportunity for people to learn about the real daily life of living together with people with disabilities.” The film collects candid opinions about the image of people with disabilities and asks the question, “What is a disability? The film asks the question, “What is disability? The filmmakers hope that the audience will learn about the real daily lives of people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 11, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Film Forced Sterilization Japan Mark Bookman

Japan’s Diet Passes Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill, ‘Mark: A Call to Action’ on Some Amazon Primes [Podcast Episode]

The Diet enacted a bill into law on Tuesday to compensate victims of forced sterilization under Japan’s now-defunct eugenic protection law. The compensation law will take effect three months after its promulgation.

MARK: A CALL TO ACTION is the story of Dr. Mark Bookman, a severely disabled Pennsylvania-born American who later resided in Tokyo full-time, becoming one of Japan’s leading experts on accessibility and a policy consultant to governments and major corporations around the world. His tireless efforts helped raise awareness and positively impacted the lives of not only disabled persons, but also children, seniors and vulnerable populations in the United States, Japan and many other nations.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 1, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Film Japan Mark Bookman

Film about Academic Mark Bookman ‘Mark – A Call to Action’ On Amazon US on October 8th 2024

There is one week to go until the release of ‘Mark – A Call to Action’ on October 8th 2024! Mark Bookman was a historian, whose specialism was disability policy and related social movements in Japanese and global contexts. He studied Japanese Studies at University of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his death on December 16th 2022 he was Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Tokyo. The film is directed by Ron Small.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Film Japan Mark Bookman

Documentary film ‘Mark: A Call To Action’ to be released on DVD on October 8th 2024 [Podcast Episode]

Mark Bookman was a historian, whose specialism was disability policy and related social movements in Japanese and global contexts. He studied Japanese Studies at University of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his death on December 16th 2022 he was Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Tokyo. The documentary film ‘Mark: A Call To Action’, directed by Ron Small about Mark, will be released on DVD on October 8th 2024: