Several artists denounce sexual abuse by Japanese director Sion Sono

Several actresses have accused the controversial Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono of harassment and trying to take sexual licenses with “most of (its) female leads” for years, according to an article in Shukan Josei Prime. The pink press portal published an extensive article on Monday in which, anonymously, several women linked to the Japanese entertainment industry accused Sono (Toyokawa, 1961) of making indecent proposals, overstepping and even an attempt to violation that would have taken place a decade ago. A day later, when several Anglo-Saxon specialized media echoed the accusations, the Japanese Milla Araki, who defines herself as a fashion designer and former actress, shared one of the articles on the social network Twitter with the message: “It’s not just harassment sexual, it’s much more, he attacked me. Yes, I’m one of the victims.”

In a message that was maintained today as the front page of the website of his production company, Sion Production, Sono apologized for the inconvenience caused by the revelations, writing, “I am sorry for the lack of consideration I have shown to the people around me and I would like to amend it from now on.” However, the filmmaker denied the accusations, pointing out that the information in the article “differs from the facts” and that he will take “the appropriate measures” through his representative.

“Sono’s predatory behavior towards women has been well known among Japanese filmmakers for yearsbut none dared to speak out for fear of a violent reaction and ostracism,” actor Yuki Matsuzaki denounced today in a Twitter thread in which he addresses the silence of the Japanese industry. The actor has been sharing testimonies of women on networks who say they have been harassed by the filmmaker or have listened for years to warnings about his conduct.

The accusations against Sono come a month after several women made similar allegations against another prominent Japanese filmmaker, Hideo Sakaki (Goto, 1970), in Shukan Bunshun magazine, and against actor Houka Kinoshita (Daito, 1964). According to the women, who also take refuge in anonymity, both would have abused their position to go too far and coerce them into having sex in exchange for promises about the future of their careers. Sakaki has acknowledged having sex with some of them, but says they were consensual. These revelations led dozens of Japanese industry professionals, including names like directors Hirokazu Koreeda and Miwa Nishikawa, to sign a manifesto against these abuses.