One Litre of Tears

A story of life, love and dreams told by a teenager, whose life is about to start in high-school but ended up with an incurable disease which led her to loose all that will enable to reach her dreams. The girl’s name is Aya. At the start of this renowned Japanese series, she was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Degeneration disease. It is a progessive incurable disease with an unknown source. People who gets this disease will initially stumble a lot, at times will loose control over muscle movements and will unable to decipher correct distances. As time goes, it will lead to inability to walk or hold things on their own, inability to talk, will always choke when eating and the end result the body giving out to death.

The plot is based on a true story of a Japanese girl named Aya Kito, who had this disease at the age of 14. She kept a diary and everyday wrote of her experiences until she could no longer hold a pen. Aya’s simple wish was to live till the end. She kept on writing as a reminder to herself to never give up and to find ways to help other people. Her dream came true when after her death, her diaries were published and inspired a lot of people to to be courageos and loving especially those who got the same disease.

So far, there are about 18,000,000 copies of her diary sold and the series aids in promoting this very inspiring life of an ill fourteen year old whose simple motto was:

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

When I started watching the series I bought last week, I cried in each and every episode (literally!) It’s not a question that the series is really tragic and sad. What gets to me is the internal question of “What would I do if I were Aya? Would I have been brave to face the world as an invalid with the knowledge I will die eventually and earlier than those I love?” No, I wouldn’t be brave as this teenager. Her strength and wisdom to find courage in every little thing is simply amazing. Kind words, simple metaphors of plants and animals, her love for her family, her friends’ loyalty, she had a simple life full of imagination and courage. A lot of people have more than her but I believe she proved to be more worthy of any praise regarding her outlook in life.

Personally, this is one of the best Japanese dramas I’ve ever seen for the simple reason it is very enlightening.

It is worth the watch!

Tell me, the fact that you are reading this blog, it means you are in front of a computer. The computer may be yours or rented. Whether owned or rented, you had the money to avail of this computer. It also means you are in an area where you could sit down, type and read at your pace. Have you ever wondered you are lucky enough to have this simple privilege?

Aya, at the peak of her disease, was rooted on her bed. She did have physical rehabilitation but since she had a progressive disease, her body eventually gave out. When she tried to phone her mother from the hospital, her fingers were too shaky to press on the correct numbers. She was unable to make the call. She couldn’t walk home, she couldn’t call. All she wanted was to hear her mother’s voice before she retires for the night.

I was so moved by the series, I just ordered a copy of her diary from amazon.jp (english translate of course). I can’t wait to have it and be inspired by Aya’s story from her own words, from her own feelings.

One Litre of Tears…

A simple enlightenment is what we need to continue with our lives. I’m very thankful I got hold of this series.

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