1 Litre of Tears (1リットルの涙)
This drama is based on the real-life struggles of a 15-year-old girl named Aya Kitou who suffered from an incurable disease, but lived life to the fullest until her death at 25. The script is based on the diary Aya kept writing until she could no longer hold a pen. The book that later followed entitled
One Litre of Tears has sold over 1.1 million copies in Japan alone. Aya Kitou proved her courage and positive attitude towards an uncertain future when suffering such an illness, spinocerebellar ataxia. The drama spans a decade, during which she graduates from school while her conditions worsen.
The story begins as Aya prepares for the new semester. Despite being happy, she suffers from slight physical problems, which only her mother seems to notice. However, one day, she falls unconsciously on the floor.
After she is sent to the hospital, she is shortly diagnosed with the disease. Despite the fact that she is diagnosed with the terminal illness, she does not lose the will to survive.
She still makes friends with others, including her first love, Yuji. She later develops an interest in Haruto. Although somewhat cold, Haruto was still kind to her. Meanwhile, her health continues to deteriorate.
Knowing that she will not survive for long, she returns the gift Haruto has given, who discovers the fact when he reads the love letter that Aya gave him.
The following extract is taken from the movie i watched:
Episod 1: The Beginning of my Youth(ある青春の始まり)- 'If i were a flower, then now i'd be a bud. I shall treasure the beginning of my youth without any regrets.'
Episod 2: 15 years old, sickness that steals up(15才、忍びよる病魔)- 'Mother, deep inside my heart, i have a mother who always believes in me. From now onwards as well, please continue to look after me. I'm sorry to have troubled you so much.'
Episod 3: Why did the illness choose me?(病気はどうして私を選んだの)- 'Why did this disease choose me? I cannot carry it, if it's just the word 'fate'.'
Episod 4: The Loneliness of Two(二人の孤独)- 'I want to build a time machine and revisit the past. If i weren't for this disease, i might even be in love. I want cling to someone's arm so badly.'
Episod 5: A disable person notebook(障害者手帳)- 'I really don't want to say things such as 'i want to go back to how things were before'. I recognize how i am right now, and i will continue to live on.'
Episod 6: Heartless glances(心ない視線)- 'Therefore i definitely won't run away. That's what i'll do. Definitely, always.'
Episod 7: The place where i am(私のいる場所)- 'Even if it's like that, i still want to stay here. Because this is the place where i am.'
Episod 8: 1 Litres of Tears(1リットルの涙)- 'If you look up at the sky after falling down the blue sky is also today stretching limitlessly and smiles at me... I'm alive. I'm alive.'
Episod 9: I live now(今を生きる)- 'People shouldn't dwell on the past. It's enough to try your best in all that you're doing now.'
Episod 10: Love letter(ラブレター)- 'Reality is too cruel, too brutal. I don't even have the right to dream. As i think about the future, the tears will come out again.'
Episod 11: Faraway, to the plave where tears are exhausted(遠くへ、涙の尽きた場所に)- 'Samukat'-it's cold
- 'Usotsuki'-liar
- 'Yonde'-read
- 'Nikki'-diary
- 'Sou da yo'-yes i am
- 'Ikite ne'-live on
- 'Zutto iki'-live on forever
May 23rd, 1988. 12:55 am. Kitou Aya 25 years old lay asleep forever. Surrounded by flowers, she passed away.
The diary '1 Litre of Tears' that Aya-san had been writing in since she was 14, up until now has sold 18,000,000 copies.
Even after 29 years, now it still continues to give a lot of people courage including me~!!!
Sher Min,
どうもありがとう for introducing the movie!!
