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
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.
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” diary (in English)
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)
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This is a great movie…..where can i be a member of her fan?.Everytime i watch this movie i will cry.There is no justice for the girl who just only 15 years old to die just because of one disease.Hope someone can reply my comment.I’m from Malaysia.
I added the link to purchase Aya’s diary in English to the article for those of you who are interested. From the review it seems the book is very well translated.
I cried alot. It really inspired me to have more hope.
Aya was really a good person and I hope Aya up there
know about all the people she cheered..Over 18 mil right?
I hope they find a cure for this disease and many other.
She never gave up and I won’t give too.
She’s amazing.
I hope more people watch this.
ok the guitar tab for Wish is now finished :)
From episode 4 – 11, I can’t stop crying.
I never thought i’d cry over a drama this much.
It was really one of the best drama out there.
If I were aya, i wouldn’t know what to do.
I don’t think i would be that brave.
She faced life being optimistic despite she knows whats going to happen to her.
All the things she wrote in the diary was really inspiring.
I wished more people would watch this drama.
You know the song that played on One Litre of Tears, Konayuki and nly Human, I don’t know why I still want cry after all movies of it, but I cannot rigt, and all of you too, just don’tcry, cause we still have to face our life tomorrow, how can if we were aya, that she couln’t even think about her future, why did this disease choose me, I cannot carry it, it’s just for the word “fate”, that something i remember about what she said about her disease, until now something that makes me cry about what she said is :
When my existence seems to disappear,
I will look for the place where i can do the best I can.
From now on, I’ll deliberate slowly. I won’t be impatients.
I won’t be greedy. I won’t give up.
Because everyone takes things step by step.
That just make my heart bla bla bla
but the one that I love the most is her mom, her family, and her friends, never give up to support her till the end
I hope we can do something from right now the best we can even the small one
Thank’s Kifuji Aya, you make a lot of people stand up to face their life bravely and happy
This movie is inspiring us to always do the best for everything we can do, never give up and always smiling even we get the bad thing
I watched that movie when I was in second grade of high school, and I couldn’t stop crying at that time, Aya is a tough girl, even she knows that there is no hope for her disease, but her spirit never off, she tried to help other people in her life, AYA you make many peolple get chance.
And I hope we can live like Aya right, her spirit, her heart
don’t be sad Guys, we still to face our life tomorrow right? ^-^
The movie did struck my heart because of the struggles that Aya had faced despite her sickness, she still lived optimistically. I cant’ even handle my simple problems at times then here comes this girl with her incurable disease and still she fights for it!! I really admire her personality and courage. Only a few people are like her. I don’t pity her for the sickness that she has, but I consider her very lucky because through her disease, a lot of people realized how important life is and it should be considered as a valuable gift from GOD.
I love this book and the Drama version! Erika Sawajiri is such a good actor! I also have this disease so it was kind of telling what is going to happen! I love the film though, it is so moving, and I think I may have cried more than one liter of tears watching the film! I am only 12 but I know what to look for so I may not be as scared now!
Thank-you Erika!
wow..
i have one complete movie..so sad and gud acting for erika swajiri..
and the seond movie “tayou no uta.. so beautiful movie..
great,,
i hope meet erika…..ehehehehe
admil
indonesia
Ghani I have the complete episodes.
Omg I loved the film! It moved me so much I think I must have cried so many times! I fall over a lot so I know how she feels (in the film). My friends can’t believe I still fall at the age of 12 (lol). Bue the film was so sad! Erika Sawajiri is such a great actor adn signer! I also think she is really pretty. I also like Riko Narumi who played Ako Aya’s sister. Great movie, I will never forget it! And I will probably watch it again!
Lady Ai, i agree with you. if anybody knows others who have ataxia or any type of incurable or suffering illness/disease, please tell me, i would like to know of their hardships and experience. my email is alex.ya.yao@hotmail.com. thanks
this movie is so sad..after i watched this movie, i feel that i want to become like aya, that want to help people that have this desease, so, if anyone know the people that have this desease..please told me in my email: bellafia_09@yahoo.com.my..
although i’m still 12 years old, it doesn’t matters because i also want to know their experienced.. i can imagined how aya suffered because of her desease.. ..so, please, tell me if you knew someone that have this desease..please!! i also want to share their LIFES…
I agree with you J_K
I think Sawajiri Erika is prettier too. xD
hi all,
i want to ask you all that which lead actress is the most prettier? the movie lead actress or drama lead actress? for me, i will choose Sawajiri Erika
i know a website you can download from with Chinese subs…
hi ghani,
y dont u download it from youtube.com? i am very sure that there must be a lot of episodes that you can watch.
i love this series.. LOL.. i cried like a little girl in the sad parts.. (imma guy).. LOL
moshi2..i want to share with u guys,when i saw the jdorama at my pc fren,firstly i dont like,suddenly when wathching it finished i’m released it tell the true about live who had a disaster disease it fate.If anyone have episode 5.pls email me at ghani_revolution@yahoo.com
Can anyone tell me where can i buy the diary?? pls?
I guess you can only get it in Japan…
Aww.. this is such a beautiful story, doesn anyone know where you can buy the books in japanese?
thank you aya
i love this so much
thats right. J_K, you absolutely right. you must be really heartless if u didn’t cry at all throughout the whole drama. i’m a guy too, and i cried at the last episode. Aya will always live on in our hearts!!!
I’m just finished this drama yesterday and it is a very touching story….i’m cried in a few episode in this drama (although i’m a guy)…especially when she leave the school and at the end of the drama….for those who haven’t watch this drama yet….you MUST to watch it!!!
P.S – If you do not cry after watch this movie, you have no soul!!!
why is aya chan die.it is not fair.i don’t want her to die.
i want her to marry with haruto.there is no lovey dovey scenes.
i pity aya.she can’t live with the person that she love.
haruto is so cool.he always protest aya.
this movie is the best dram that i ever seen.
it is freaking so sad.it makes me cry.
every time when i watch that movie i don’t know why are my tears dropping on my cheek.
also the theme song is very suit with this movie. i love theme song(only human) it makes me cry.
i wish i can watch more aya and haruto with lovey dovey drama.
aya and haruto are the best than ever.
you know
that’s really a moveing story to everyone who is missed in this world.
kito aya show us a life altitude called sunny
I think all of us need this preous factor
the book ,the movie, the viedo,all of these are so nice that I love them
i was in the public library a few days ago, and i found a whole pile of books all with the title “1 Litre of Tears”. these weren’t the diaries that Aya wrote, but were stories written about her life. it was seriously astonishing that i found copies translated to Chinese, English, French, German, and Korean. a mini section dedicated just for Aya-san. her warmth and spirit will forever live in us all.
this story is very sad…
i~really like it…like to cry……
this is very high of sad story…
i know you all feel like that too…..
this aya diary is very good too all people….
so that,to all read this side,see watching n read this aya`s story about his pain of her illness……
love the story of aya’s life,,,,,made cry since begining to the end,,,,i now apreciate life a lot more,,and god bless aya and her family,,,,,,
This drama changed my outlook on life dramatically. Because of Aya, I can now appreciate life. The hope that Aya has–it’s really touching and moving. Up until her death, she was always able to smile.
All the episodes made me cry tremendously, and made me shed 1 litre of tears. Aya is such a strong and brave person, and Erika Sawajiri was amazing–I don’t think anyone else could’ve portrayed Aya any better.
I truly hope Kitou Aya’s diary gets translated into English. Also, because of this drama, I have new reason for wanting to learn Japanese–to be able to read Aya’s diary, in the original language.
“Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing” — I’ll always treasure that quote. And because of this drama, I’ll try even harder.
To those who suffer from incurable diseases, may they watch this wonderful drama and see that there is hope, that they have something to look forward to, even after death. May they see that there was a girl who always had a smile on her face, despite the hardships she went through, and how she was touched by the love and support she received from her family, her friends, and most of all, her boyfriend.
WELL SAID! WELLLL SAID!!! I AGREE! WE GOTTA SHOW OTHERS AYA’S FEELINGS OF HOW GOOD IT IS TO BE ALIVE! GOOD LUCK ON THE TRANSLATION!!
Oh!!!! This was an AMAZING drama… I cried so much…
I’m currently trying to translate her diary Japanese to English but it’s harder than I thought… Gotta try hard to spread Aya’s feelings and to make sure that everyone knows how amazing it is to be alive and healthy!!! (^___^)
I really love this drama. It’s one of the best I’ve ever viewed. I now realize that I have to get a hold on one of the copies of the book.
hi!~this movie truly a nice one ‘coz this happen in real life and it is very touching story
This drama touched deep in my heart. I can’t even stop myseft from tearing out. Even Aya’s not in this beautiful world, but she’s always here, in my heart. She give me strength to face the problems that come across my life.
Problems, sometimes, make me tired and want to give up. But, to Aya, facing the disease bravely, she make me feel ashamed of myself.
To me, Aya’s very stronge. Just unlike me, an usual girl, who always throw my own dreams/goals away just because of some simple obstacles.
“Just being alive is such a wonderful thing.”
Thanks for giving me hope, cheering me in all time, Aya!
This drama brings out a really strong sense of how everyone should treasure their lives, and never take each breath they take for granted. I cried in every episode, especially when it came to the ending. Erika Sawajiri showed powerful acting skills, knowing where to find potential weakness and strength in each of the scenes. Ryo Nishida also brought out an amazing fictional character, which was a very thoughtful potential for someone who had to act out a character without any base. Everyone who acted in this drama really brought out a sense of living life to the fullest, pulling through every bit of bitterness, and learning to love each other the way they are.
Hello from Brazil!
Wonderful! This dorama is a must to watch to change lives…
my eyes turns red when i watch dis drama.. dis is a saddest drama dat i’ve ever watch.. i watch dis drama wit my sister.. we cried a lot..
i watched 1 LOT from 8 pm to 4 am. and on 8 am, we are having a whole day review for our NCAE exams.
~when i watched it, it really really touched me! i think i cried a bucket of tears and helped a lot for our water supply. nyahahaha ;3
~so i slept for only 4 hours.and i did not came for our review because my eye bags were so darn big! as large as a watamelon! nyahahaha! ;3
~ thanks to 1 LOT. it so darn good! it made me realize etch etch! ;3 nyahahaha!
well, there r several websites that r translating the diary for people…. check it up on google. i did that, and i thought it was pretty ok
OMG !.
this story is the saddest story i’ve ever watched !.
i cry a lot !. ;(
i was inspired by the story .. it’s really touching ..
thanks to erika ,, she played the role very well ..
ugh ,, where can i find her diary ?? i want to have one !!.
more power to yu guys !. :*
Yup…. its really amazing how she can just keep enduring all that pain. like intanaya, i also salute to Aya and her amazing spirit. when u watch this, you would wonder “how could such a terrible disease exist??”
as first time 1 watch the movie i did’t understand anything….but then it started getting interesting…..the story was really sad…i selute to aya for her strenght to continue her life althought she know that she is going to die…..but then she wrote all of her feeling towards life in her diary…that was a really amazing when one who read her diary will have encourage to continue their life….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…..
And …it is a true story in japan…
i cannot watch this dramas…everytime i did,my tears tank will become empty.
me,myself obviously cant accept the fact if i get this disease.It was too cruel.
i barely cried when i saw any movie,especially drama.but,just by listening to the music…i cried like a baby. In fact i was moaning….it was too cruel for a 15years old kid to experiance this kind of disease.
god,where ever you are,please stop deliver this kind of disease.It is difficult to be accepted,,..
For those who also suffer this kind of disease, do be strong,if someone like aya ikeuchi can endure it, of course you can also endure this…..
God Bless you..
love,from Malaysia…..amoh
thanks a lot !! xD
I think there was one at xanga, but i think i already forgot the link. So i think google-ing it is the best try.
damn straight. seriously the one of the best drama u can find. hm…. good question jacky. is there an english copy of the diary??
a very touching and inspiring drama. I loved Sawajiri Erika and Nishikido Ryou’s chemistry that brought alive the future-less love relationship… I really wonder how it would’ve been if Aya wasn’t chosen for such a cruel disease- probably a very happy life? Whenever I watch the drama- even think about it! I just cry… sad to see how life is really unfair… but very amazing and inspiring to see how someone can overcome it. I questioned myself- what would you do if you were Aya? Honestly, definitely not as strong as Aya- not as optimistic as Aya… I highly recommend this, for its realism, excellent acting and chemistry among the actors, inspirational and worthwhile morals, amazing strength and many more. I watched this a week ago and I know that in future, i’ll never forget it.
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