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Shiori Ito: Japanese journalist awarded $30,000 in damages in rape case | Shiori Ito: Japanese journalist awarded $30,000 in damages in rape case |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Japanese court has ordered a high-profile TV reporter to pay 3.3 million yen ($30,000; £22,917) in damages to a journalist who accused him of rape. | |
Shiori Ito alleged that Noriyuki Yamaguchi raped her in 2015 while she was unconscious. | |
Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence for a criminal case, so Ms Ito brought a civil case. | Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence for a criminal case, so Ms Ito brought a civil case. |
Ms Ito has become a symbol of the #MeToo movement in a country where people rarely report sexual assault. | Ms Ito has become a symbol of the #MeToo movement in a country where people rarely report sexual assault. |
"I'm so happy," said 30-year-old Ms Ito, who held up a sign which read "victory" after the verdict was announced. | "I'm so happy," said 30-year-old Ms Ito, who held up a sign which read "victory" after the verdict was announced. |
But in a news conference hours later, Mr Yamaguchi said he planned to appeal - and he again denied the rape allegations. | |
According to Ms Ito, 53-year-old Mr Yamaguchi - who is said to have close ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - invited her to dinner to discuss a possible job opportunity in 2015. | |
She suspects she may have been drugged, saying that when she regained consciousness, she was "in a hotel room and he was on top of me". | She suspects she may have been drugged, saying that when she regained consciousness, she was "in a hotel room and he was on top of me". |
Ms Ito was an intern at news agency Reuters when the alleged rape occurred. | Ms Ito was an intern at news agency Reuters when the alleged rape occurred. |
Mr Yamaguchi was then Washington bureau chief for the Tokyo Broadcasting System, a major media firm in Japan. | Mr Yamaguchi was then Washington bureau chief for the Tokyo Broadcasting System, a major media firm in Japan. |
Investigations were opened but then dropped by police, citing insufficient evidence. | Investigations were opened but then dropped by police, citing insufficient evidence. |
Ms Ito said police forced her to re-enact the alleged rape with a life-sized doll while male officers looked on. | Ms Ito said police forced her to re-enact the alleged rape with a life-sized doll while male officers looked on. |
A 2017 government survey found that only 4% of rape victims reported the crime to the police. | |
Shiori Ito: In her own words | Shiori Ito: In her own words |
As part of the investigation into my allegations, I was asked to come to the police station adjacent to the hotel I was taken to that night. | As part of the investigation into my allegations, I was asked to come to the police station adjacent to the hotel I was taken to that night. |
When I arrived, accompanied by my best friend, for moral support, I was taken to a gymnasium on an upper floor of the station. I had heard about what was about to happen, and asked for my friend to be able to come with me. | When I arrived, accompanied by my best friend, for moral support, I was taken to a gymnasium on an upper floor of the station. I had heard about what was about to happen, and asked for my friend to be able to come with me. |
The police refused. I was taken into the gym and told to lie on a mattress, and life-size mannequin was then produced and three male officers moved the doll on top of me, asking me intimate questions about exactly what happened and taking photographs. | The police refused. I was taken into the gym and told to lie on a mattress, and life-size mannequin was then produced and three male officers moved the doll on top of me, asking me intimate questions about exactly what happened and taking photographs. |
I was told this was essential to the investigation. | I was told this was essential to the investigation. |
It was at this time, that I had to make the shift in my head from complainant to journalist. | It was at this time, that I had to make the shift in my head from complainant to journalist. |
The only way I have been able to continue has been to completely compartmentalise my feelings - I had to treat this as a story I was following: I was seeking the truth as a journalist, detached and dispassionate. | The only way I have been able to continue has been to completely compartmentalise my feelings - I had to treat this as a story I was following: I was seeking the truth as a journalist, detached and dispassionate. |
That is still the way I try to frame it in my mind. | That is still the way I try to frame it in my mind. |
Read more: Japan's Secret Shame | Read more: Japan's Secret Shame |
Ms Ito filed a civil lawsuit against Mr Yamaguchi seeking 11 million yen ($100,517 ; £76,758) in compensation. | Ms Ito filed a civil lawsuit against Mr Yamaguchi seeking 11 million yen ($100,517 ; £76,758) in compensation. |
Mr Yamaguchi, who denies any wrongdoing and claims the sex was consensual, filed a counter-suit seeking 130 million yen ($1,187,941; £907,135) in compensation. | Mr Yamaguchi, who denies any wrongdoing and claims the sex was consensual, filed a counter-suit seeking 130 million yen ($1,187,941; £907,135) in compensation. |
He will now have to pay Ms Ito $30,000 in damages, but there remains no criminal case against him. | He will now have to pay Ms Ito $30,000 in damages, but there remains no criminal case against him. |
Under Japan's rape law, prosecutors must prove violence or intimidation was involved, or that the victim was "incapable of resistance". | Under Japan's rape law, prosecutors must prove violence or intimidation was involved, or that the victim was "incapable of resistance". |