1 Litre no Namida (1リットルの涙; lit. "1 Litre of Tears"; also called A Diary with Tears or A Diary of Tears) is a 2005 Japanese television drama series broadcast by Fuji TV. The story based on the story of Aya Kitō, who suffered from a degenerative disease and died at the age of 25. Directed by Riki Okamura, it stars Erika Sawajiri, Ryō Nishikido, Hiroko Yakushimaru and Takanori Jinnai.
The script is based on Aya's diary that she kept writing in until she could no longer hold a pen. The diary was later titled One Litre of Tears and sold over 1.1 million copies in Japan.
A new film is scheduled for 2027, with Nishikido reprising his role.
Contents
Plot
Fifteen-year-old Aya Ikeuchi is an ordinary girl, soon to be high school student and the eldest daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop. As time passes, unusual things start happening to Aya. She begins falling down often and walking strangely. Concerned about her health, Aya's mother Shioka takes her to a doctor; he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration, a rare disease where the cerebellum gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. As cruel as the disease is, it does not affect the mind.
Episodes
Special episode
On April 5, 2007, Fuji Television aired a three-hour special of the series set half a year (2014–2015) after Aya's death, and focuses on Haruto Asō, who has now become a doctor at the same hospital Aya was treated in, and Ako Ikeuchi, Aya's younger sister who is now a nurse in training, while Rika, Aya's youngest sister, has just started high school. Haruto is caring for a 14-year-old female patient, Mizuki, who was bullied in school because of her spinocerebellar degeneration, and rejects therapy due to having lost her will to live. Haruto remembers how Aya fought her illness and lived her life with her disease, and is thus motivated to support Mizuki reappears in the episode using a number of flashbacks from the series and in new scenes.
2027 film
A new movie is scheduled to be screened in 2027. Ryo Nishikido reprises his role from the 2005 series. The film, based on the books "1 Litre of Tears: The Diary of Aya, a Girl Fighting a Serious Illness" by Aya Kitō, and "Hurdles of life – "1 Litre of Tears," Notes from Mother" by her mother, Shioka Kitō, continues the story of the series.
Casts
Main cast
Erika Sawajiri - Aya Ikeuchi
Ryo Nishikido - Haruto Asou
Other cast
Naohito Fujiki - Hiroshi Mizuno (a doctor)
Hiroko Yakushimaru - Ikeuchi Shioka
Takanori Jinnai - Ikeuchi Mizuo
Riko Narumi - Ikeuchi Ako
Yuma Sanada - Ikeuchi Hiroki
Ai Miyoshi, Yuuki Miyoshi - Ikeuchi Rika (the latter played an older Rika in the last two episodes)
Sarasa Morimoto - Ikeuchi Rika in the special episode, in first year of high school.
Saori Koide - Mari Sugiura (One of Aya's best friends)
Kenichi Matsuyama - Yuji Kawamoto (Aya's first love interest and the basketball club leader, who drifts apart from her when she falls ill)
Yuya Endo - Takeda Makoto (Yuji's friend in the basketball club)
Kana Matsumoto - Saki Matsumura
Momosuke Mizutani - Kohei Onda
Ryo Hashidume - Keita Nakahara
Hiroshi Katsuno - Yoshifumi Asōu (Haruto's father)
Asae Onishi - Asumi Oikawa (Aya's roommate when she was in disability school, who has the same disease as Aya)
Kazuko Katō - Kikue Oikawa (Asumi's mother)
Yuuki Sato - Keisuke Asōu (Haruto's brother)
Alternate versions
Indonesian Production House SinemArt's drama, titled Buku Harian Nayla (Nayla's Diary). This series aired on RCTI as a special Christmas series in 2006. The scenario was written by Serena Luna, aka Chevyra Edenia.
Amrita TV is to dub 1 Litre no Namida, and the Chinese drama Tears of Happiness is based on this drama.
A Turkish remake of this drama, titled Bir Litre Gözyaşı, aired on Kanal D in 2018.
Ratings
Source: Video Research, Ltd.
Broadcasts
Japan
Original run: October 11, 2005 – December 20, 2005
Network and Timeslot: Fuji TV, Tuesdays at 10:00-11:00 pm
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
OST by Susumu Ueda
Hong Kong
Original run: October 15, 2006 – December 31, 2006
Network and Timeslot: TVB Jade, Sundays at 10:30-11:30 pm
Theme song(s): "Stubborn" (固執) by Jason Chan (TV), Xiang Ai Bu Xiang Ai (想愛不相愛) by Ivana Wong (Movie)
Singapore
Original run: Nov 28, 2006 – Jan 2, 2007
Channel and time slot: E-City, Mondays and Tuesdays, 11:00 pm – 12:00 am
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
Indonesia
Original run: May 4, 2007 – May 18, 2007
Network and Timeslot: Indosiar, Mondays to Fridays at 05:00-06:00 pm
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
Taiwan
Original run: July 2, 2007 – July 18, 2007
Network and Timeslot: Japan Entertainment Television, Mondays to Thursdays at 10:00-11:00 pm
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
Malaysia
Original run: August 4, 2007 – October 20, 2007
Channel and time slot: 8TV, Saturdays, 06:00 pm – 07:00 pm
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
Thailand
Original run: May 5, 2008 - June 9, 2008
Channel and time slot: Thai Public Broadcasting Service, Mondays & Tuesdays, 08:30 pm – 09:30 pm
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
Philippines
Original run: May 25, 2009 – June 19, 2009
Channel and time slot: GMA Network, Weekdays, 10:15 pm – 10:45 pm
Theme songs: "Walang Hanggan" by Wency Cornejo feat. Cookie Chua, "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
Vietnam
Original run: September 3, 2012
Channel and time slot: HTV3, Mondays to Thursday, 21h30 - 22h30 GMT+7
Theme songs: "Only Human" by K, and "Konayuki" (粉雪; Powdered Snow) and "Sangatsu Kokonoka" (3月9日; 9 March) by Remioromen
OST by Susumu Ueda