1 Litre of Tears

January 1st, 2006 by Jason · 935 Comments

Sometimes I feel like my body doesn't belong to me. What's happening to me?

This dorama is about a girl who was diagnosed with a disease called “Spinocerebellar Degeneration” when she was 15 years old, and was able to continue her life until her death at the age of 25 years old.

The plot is based on the true story of a Japanese girl named Kito Aya, who had the same disease. She kept writing in her diary to remember her experiences until she could no longer hold a pen. Aya simply wished to live until the end of her life, and the purpose of writing in the diary was to remind herself to not give up. She shed tears many times, at the same time encompassed by the rich love and support from her family, friends, and boyfriend. Her diary “1 Litre of Tears” was published after her death, because of its inspiring and courageous message of

“Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing.”

So far, over 18,000,000 copies of her diary have been sold.

The Review

Haruto and Aya

This dorama features Sawajiri Erika, Nishikido Ryou, Narumi Riko, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Jinnai Takanori and Fujiki Naohito. Sawajiri Erika has powerfully brought out the character of Aya, and people who watch this dorama will feel compassion for her while she suffers from the illness. My tears flowed after almost every episode as I questioned myself, “What would I do if I were Aya?” This is a dorama where you can see a 15 year old young girl who was able to face her disease bravely, and tried her best to treasure the time she spent with her friends, family and boyfriend everyday she could.

To me, this was one of the best doramas of 2005, mainly because the reality of this story has enlightened me. I realized that my life is not that tough compared to those who are suffering from an incurable disease. “1 Litre of Tears” stood out for a reason: it is not because Aya was upset because of her disease, she was touched by the love and patience she received from her friends and family. I was amazed by the braveness with which she chose to live her life, as a strong girl who was only 15 years old, yet managed to face her cruel fate with a positive outlook, and tried her best to do whatever she could by herself.

Kito Aya's diary

For those dorama fans who loved “Beautiful Life” that starred Takuya Kimura & Tokiwa Takako, I’d bet you guys will appreciate this story too. I can feel the power of the love from her family and friends in this story, and encouraged me to be positive in my life even though there may be many difficulties and problems. I hope there will be somebody who is willing to translate the original diary by Kito Aya sold in Japan because she has a lot of meaningful words in her diary. This story contains both sadness and love, and I hope you guys will love this dorama as much as I did.

Episode 1 synopsis

This dorama starts right before Aya is confronted with the illness, Spinocerebellar Degeneration, in which the nerve cells of areas necessary for the human body to move and balance–including the cerebellum, brain stem, and spinal cord–transform and eventually disappear.

Ikeuchi Aya (Sawajiri Erika), a 15 year old girl, is the eldest daughter in a normal Japanese family. She lives with her reliable mother, Shioka, who works as a nutritionist, her father, Mizuo, the wacky owner of a tofu shop, her quiet younger brother, Hiroki, and two younger sisters, the sarcastic Ako and innocent Rika. On the day of her high school entrance exam, she left the house full of energy, but she missed her stop to get off the bus and walk to her high school because she fell asleep. She quickly got off and ran from the bus in the rain when she discovered she was late. She slipped, fell down and injured her knee. At that time, she met Haruto Aso, who was trying to skip the exam. He gave her a ride to school, the administrators allowed them to take the exam (despite the fact that Haruto was uninterested in taking it), which they both later passed.

The new semester began, Aya and Haruto were in the same class, and both were elected as the representative of their class. Aya also joined the basketball team, and was reunited with the boy who she was fond of from the male basketball team. Just as she was beginning to enjoy her high school days, Aya starts to experience some physical difficulties. She always dropped food from her chopsticks, could not estimate the distance of the objects in front of her, could not pour water into a cup without spilling it, and occasionally wobbled while walking. Her mother, Shioka, who was the only one to notice the physical changes in Aya, started to worry about what was going on.

One day, Aya’s life started to change after she tripped and fell. She couldn’t protect herself with her hands while falling and she hurt her face. After this, her illness is slowly revealed and her tragedy begins…

Purchase: “1 Litre of Tears” DVD Box
Purchase: “1 Litre of Tears” diary (in Japanese)
Purchase: “1 Litre of Tears” Original Soundtrack

Torrent: Fansub by Kioku Konseki
Torrent: Original Soundtrack
Insert song: Konayuki by Remioromen

Translation: by Kiwi and Pye (ongoing)
Translation: by Ayafan (ongoing)

About the author

Jason has a few favourite Japanese singers: Utada Hikaru, Do As Infinity, Otsuka Ai, ELT, Misia, Mika Nakashima, Ken Hirai, Chemistry, Gospellers, B'z...

Dorama

935 responses so far ↓

Pages: « 19 … 17 16 15 14 13 [12] 11 10 9 8 7 … 1 » Show All

Larsis Blog » Blog Archive » Neues Gedicht: Schicksal // Mar 14, 2007 at 10:05 pm

[...] Gedicht ist inspiriert durch eine Serie, die mich mehr Tr�nen als jede andere gekostet hat: “1 Litre Of Tears” Beruhend auf einer wahren Begebenheit erz�hlt sie von einem 15-j�hrigen M�dchen, welches unter der [...]
Cheng Vang // Mar 13, 2007 at 10:41 pm

It was sad, I’d cried inside…LOL
stubby tammy // Mar 13, 2007 at 9:21 pm

anyone interested in telling how you can purchase her dairy? i love Aya she’s so inspirational!! =]
stubby tammy // Mar 13, 2007 at 9:15 pm

this is a very good movie i have not yet finished the story but so far i have cried a lot probably more than a litre already! LOL ^^
_xX_Cynthia_Xx_ // Mar 12, 2007 at 11:41 pm

This is teh saddiest Movie eva..She cries 1 litre of Tears becaUse of teh disease.. i cried 10 litres of tears watching the movie…SoooO sad…. That girls is Pretty…!!!!
my // Mar 12, 2007 at 9:47 pm

THIS is like the best japanese movie i seen so far. it made me cry althourgh out the movie.
Yien Yieng // Mar 9, 2007 at 10:35 am

I’ve seen this Drama just only!
This is very very very nice series!
I bet i have my very own 1 litre of tears just after watched this
I think Erika played the role well~Gambatte!
NurAmirah // Mar 9, 2007 at 10:33 am

i was really surprise when i get this series from my friend. it inspired me so much. the 1st episode, about the 1st hard stpe in aya’s life, and i considered as my 1st diffrent thought i ever made. this atory has become my other half. i love it very much, and been influenced by the characteristics of aya and her mom, and also appriciate my life to the fullest. i just want to thank you, aya.
GHIS // Mar 9, 2007 at 10:23 am

On April 5 in japan, “1 litre of tears” will be broadcasted as the special version which described “the back”.
A chief character dies last. Therefore I cannot imagine a sequel.
Narumi Rico that played a younger sister of a chief character & Nishikido Akira who was a classmate, These two people seem to become an axis of a story.
Sawajiri erika appears in a flashback, too.
Edward Kan // Mar 8, 2007 at 11:52 pm

Hi, when I first heard about a Japanese drama that was about a girl with a special diesease. I was kinda interested in hearing what this disease was.

After awhile it has been released, I have gotten the chance to view this drama. When I discovered that the disease was Spinocerebellar Degeneration, I finally realised that it had the exact symptoms as my disease that I had previously. Although my MS specialist doctor termed my disease at that time as multiple sclerosis, it didn’t match any of the things that led to MS. This disease/sickness occured when I had a serious head collision with a van ceiling, and after 2 wks…related symtoms to “Kito Aya” started occuring. I was pretty scared at that time, as I did not know what was happening with my body. All of a sudden, walking became unbalance, double vision occurred, uncontroled head bobbling, unproportional face due to damaged nerves, finger tip numbness, and deteriation control of hand-eye coordination.

I went through 2 MRIs, 1 Xray,and 2 CTscans, to finally leading up to a questionable answer regarding my disease. It led to the darkest 5 months of my life, which I’ll never forget….as I feared that I would never be normal again. Although, I started letting myself lose hope of a cure, day by day and blaming God…my family and friends kept encouraging me to keep fighting and never lose hope.

During this period, I discovered who cares about me and who didn’t. I also discovered my path and direction in life, because I had a lot of free time.

After everyone has read about how Ataxias and Cerebellar/Spinocerebellar Degeneration has no cure…this might sound ridiculous, but I was a victim of this disease and I have fully recovered.

After reading through all this, you might think I’m just lying and looking for attention. But I’m not, because I serious can use this time typing and put it into better uses.

For everyone: “Please, enjoy every second of your life while you can..because there are many unfortunate people in the world, that fights for every second of their life each day.”

Although I am very fortunate that I have fully recovered to being normal again. I try my best to treasure everybody that’s around me. And I cried through every second of this drama.
anna // Mar 7, 2007 at 10:26 am

hahaha…..”buku harian nayla” too difrrent than1 litre of tears..
Sawajiri erika…kawaii..
^ ^
lolz..
i like her acting!!
Natasha Sebastian // Mar 7, 2007 at 9:39 am

1 litre of tears is the greatest of dorama which ever I watch in my life…hehehe.
It is vey touch my heart and make me cry,cry, and cry… huuhuhuhuhuhu T.T
I got that movie firstly from my Japan lesson in my school…
Then…OH My GOD!!!! THIS movie is REALLY..REALY GREAT, COOL, AWESOME…!!! in episodes 1,2,3.. I’m not crying yet…but until 5,6,7,8 episodes…. Waaaaaaaa……….!!!!!!!! T.T I crying more than before…hehehehehe ^_^ There are many tissue in my floor…hahahaha

I like tihs movie..not only that,but the soundtracks of that film is very best and cool too!! Now, I have Only Human’s-K (ost. 1 litre of tears) in my mobile.. and I have the text too..It’s complite!!

Aya is beautifull girl, smart girl, friendly, strong girl and she very loves her family…
I like your charateristic,dude..!!!hehehehe..

Keep bravely to fight the disease,friends!!

Thank’s anyway

Jya nee..!!

+ Natasha-chan+
chee muaj // Mar 7, 2007 at 9:34 am

emmez mOua hey when is the book coming out in the U.S. tell me alright.
ainul-chan // Mar 6, 2007 at 10:59 pm

waaahhh…this drama is perfect!!!
it touch me so much…
i’m cried in every episoded i watched ~0^
guess till 1 litre?? huhu…
very sad story but i want to be strong girl like aya!
she so amazing… i can’t imagine if i at her place.
keep living on!!!
this drama really motivated me.

thank you aya-chan!!! ^-^
emmez mOua // Mar 6, 2007 at 10:55 pm

OI u guys just wait till the book comes out over here!! or there!! LOl yerh..i wanna read it too >
amie // Mar 6, 2007 at 8:12 pm

i really love this movie..very sad..

the guy Haruto looks lyk jerry yan!
WeHa // Mar 6, 2007 at 1:14 pm

Watched it a year ago, but this film still makes me cry whenever i watch it.

If you’d like, someone translated Aya’s diary to English. Open it in:

http://www.xanga.com/OneLitre (chapter 1 and 2)

and

http://diaryofaya.blogspot.com/
(chapter 3 and still going ^^)
Ren-C // Mar 5, 2007 at 7:38 am

Really made me like different person,
Until now, I can’t believe I cried…
I’m a tough guy!!!!!!
tito // Mar 5, 2007 at 4:25 am

i like the movie…… and aya!!
fitriani walangare // Mar 5, 2007 at 3:53 am

konnichiwa….minashang…
1 litre of tears is the best dorama 4 me…
tha’s perfect dorama…
i like erika sawajiri as aya ikeuchi…
i most like her when erika sad N crying…i need crying too…
i hope i can be like aya “stronger women”
;) arigatou gozaimazu…
Milly // Mar 5, 2007 at 3:42 am

it’s very great drama!!!
I am very sad when I saw it
1 litre of tears make me crying hiks..hiks………
congratulation!
I like the act very much
I like ERIKA SAWAJIRI very much
You’re beautiful
Rebecca // Mar 4, 2007 at 4:58 am

This perfect drama really touches me deeply.
I’ve known what is the most important in my life now.
I want to be a tough girl like Aya.
Thank you, Aya…
rita // Mar 4, 2007 at 12:24 am

This drama is really touching me. i’ve read a lot of CNS diseases but never know how devastating it is to live with one of the diseases. After i watched that drama, i do understand now how the disease progress and how pity it was.
trungbatigol // Mar 3, 2007 at 10:39 am

I love that drama !

I love ” Strongly , Go Forward ”

Never forget it !
WILDA // Mar 3, 2007 at 8:03 am

i very like 1 litre of tears because the story make me knoy mean in my life and send me message for always happy whatever happen. Sawajiri erika is a good artist. I very like her. i also like ryo nishikido.
AlVin // Mar 2, 2007 at 10:02 pm

hi all…is there an english version of her diary avaliable in singapore ??
uty // Mar 2, 2007 at 7:41 pm

iam sure..this drama must exchange the tittle,,to be..5 litre of tears…
kiine // Mar 2, 2007 at 11:38 am

I’s it possible to buy the series with english subs? The dvd-box are only on japanese.. I would LOVE to have it.. It’s the best drama I’ve ever seen.. And the sadest! I’m crying my eyes out..
Nigel // Mar 1, 2007 at 8:37 am

life is like a boat floating while we are on it ,
it is also a leaf while we are beside it as it floats away
so beautiful so weightless
and we cant stop it but to enjoy the moment with it
chee muaj // Feb 28, 2007 at 9:25 am

can anyone tell me where i can get a 1 litre of tears aya’s noto (notebook)?
Lynda // Feb 28, 2007 at 4:26 am

I do really love this drama…….
That’s make me cry a lot. I like Sawajiri Erika….

^o^
Ajenk // Feb 27, 2007 at 4:51 am

I cried in every episode I watched… I couldn’t imagine if I were Aya. Maybe I couldn’t be as tough as Aya. Well, I just can say that this drama is so perfect and inspirational…
justine // Feb 27, 2007 at 2:05 am

i cried a lot throughout this series, but by the end i still had hope that everything would be ok and that she would get better and get married and that jazz, but she died. the first thing i said was ‘this is bullshit’ while balling my eyes out. she was supposed to be happy in the end (which she was i guess… but would have been happier if she got better) but she didn’t get better. i didn’t know that it was based on a true story so i was really expecting the disney ending, but i’m kind of glad it wasn’t. this was a drama that made me feel the emotions i was feeling while watching the drama, after i finished watching the drama (if i didn’t articulate that clearly i apologize). people who suffer from this or other uncurable diseases don’t usually get the disney ending, they usually get the bullshit. this drama allowed me to experience a fraction of what people suffering from this condition, or people who know someone suffering from this condition, have to go through and what they are most likely feeling. this drama was very well done and i highly recommend it, but prepare yourself for some heart ache.
(i was also disappointed at the end because the guy was really hot, and aya was cute. i really wanted them to end up together)
over all, it was awsome ^_^
Pula // Feb 26, 2007 at 9:55 pm

I haven’t watch drama but I like the story very much and will always support nice people and the art.
BigManny // Feb 26, 2007 at 4:56 pm

I love it!!!!Im on episode 10 and it has such a good story line and its soo sad Ive cried so many times THIS IS THE MOST PERFECT DRAMA!!!
sharina // Feb 24, 2007 at 6:28 am

one word: PERFECT!
wong // Feb 23, 2007 at 3:15 pm

hi there hey were can i get 1 litre of tears music video or download
Chee Muaj // Feb 22, 2007 at 3:13 pm

hm can anyone read what the kanji said. i can’t read kanji yet i can only read higana and katakana. thxss plz do tell me.
lee-cheng // Feb 22, 2007 at 12:49 pm

i love this drama! it was awesome!
Wong // Feb 20, 2007 at 1:04 pm

hi there i love this episode. it make me cry man this is sad movie i love this movie best 1
Edward // Feb 20, 2007 at 2:09 am

best story ever.. she makes me realize,how lucky i am with this beautiful life..
touching and extremely sad.. i’m sure everybody will cry when they watch this drama..

we should follow what aya has done, never surrender until her last breath.. value your life!
kaname // Feb 19, 2007 at 8:12 am

konichiwa…
I hate “buku harian Nayla…”
and the story of one litre of tears is so wonderful. I cant mind if i will be the kitou aya…
arigatou…
泉 // Feb 19, 2007 at 6:24 am

一升的眼泪！！
我喜欢！！！
def // Feb 17, 2007 at 4:08 am

may the messages of Aya ca be cry out to all of the world, Life is beautifull.
thank you for the miracle dorama, Idonesinesen love it.. Good bless for all of u.
anna // Feb 16, 2007 at 1:40 pm

really 1 litre of tears….j`dorama can make me cry..hiks
YATTA!! ^ ^
wildefyr // Feb 16, 2007 at 4:20 am

the best dorama ive ever seen. this touched me so much that i was upset for a week waking up from my sleep feeling really sad. ive never really cried watching any drama but this one made me. really inspiring. i think im in love with erika sawajiri
Kayan // Feb 14, 2007 at 11:27 pm

this movie is really inspiring… um… for anyone who wants to know where to find it go to youtube.com create an account and then type in the movie .. you can find it there.. i’m at school so i can’t give you the link
i give it out when i get home
farida // Feb 14, 2007 at 11:23 pm

every episodes of this drama really make me sad even though i watch it many time…i never watch the sad drama like 1 litre of tears..u know i watched this drama during my final exam at university…i love to see aya and aso because there are very cute and handsome and i also like aya family especially her mum which very patience and understanding with her family
cecilia // Feb 14, 2007 at 7:56 am

Aso is not really exsist,he is an imaginary person,because Aya’s mother in real life wants her daughter to experience once love.
Aso is acted by Ryo,the member of a Japanese group called”关Johnny’s 8″,I like him,too.And I appreciate a lot that this is a good drama with good actors and actresses.
Tony // Feb 14, 2007 at 7:50 am

That’s perfect drama…
I can’t leave my eyes to see.My eye just concern about the story.
N the most i like when erika sawajiri crying..
N ERIKA SAWAJIRI can i know you ?
I like you very much…