1 Litre Of Tears [Season 1]

Posted by Alvy on 2009.10.27 · 6 Comments 

I finished watching 1 Litre Of Tears a few days ago, and I wasn’t expecting how wonderfully sentimental it would be. I don’t cry over anything, but by the end of the drama, I was near dehydration.

I was introduced to this drama by a friend who said she cried on every episode, and I wasn’t really interested because I’m not into sad, romantic shows, but once she sent me a link, it was inevitable, and I fell in love with the storyline and the characters.

The drama is based on a book written by a girl named Aya who had Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a degenerative disease that makes the patient gradually lose control of movement until they’re unable to walk and talk, and eventually, live. The drama isn’t blindly based on the book, it’s more of an adaptation, because both Ayas (the one from the book and the one from the drama) are pretty different.

The real Aya’s diary sold over 18,000,000 copies after it was published, close to her death.

The theme song for the drama, Only Human by K, is one of the most beautiful, saddest songs I’ve ever listened to and also adds a very special touch to every scene.

K – Only Human

[Spoilers]

The span of the drama is around 5 years, since Aya discovers the disease when she’s 15 and dies when she’s 20. In the way, she inspired many other characters, who helped her in very difficult, sudden transitions, and it’s impossible not to feel for all the characters.

• Aya Ikeuchi: Young girl diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia, but who never loses hope of her dreams. Her diagnosis stopped her from graduating high school and keeping up with her friends, who mostly gave up on her.
• Shioka Ikeuchi: Aya’s mother, and one of her main sources of hope. She’s constantly fighting her tears to smile to her daughter and give her security through her hard times. She’s a great mother and a fighter, and just wants to see her daughter smiling for as long as she can.
• Mizuo Ikeuchi: Aya’s dramatic father. He’s a very funny character, but who’s also very deep. He cares for his family a lot and is always pushing himself harder to be able to make them happy and have Aya have proper care for her condition. He’s very sentimental, and it’s always heart-touching when he breaks down.
• Haruto Asou: Haruto is Aya’s love interest, even though he seemed very closed and arrogant in the beginning of the drama. He takes care of her and becomes a family friend for always wanting the best for Aya. Aya’s last words are for him.
• Ako Ikeuchi: Aya’s younger sister and a very talented artist. After seeing how many dreams Aya couldn’t accomplish, Ako tries to complete them for her, and graduates the same high school as her sister. At first she’s very unfeeling and cold, but becomes very in touch with her family through Aya’s disease.
• Hiroki Ikeuchi: Aya’s younger brother and a really big fan of soccer. He struggles with his sister’s disorder a lot because his friends mock her and her ways, making Hiroki ashamed of her at first, but he gets over it later on to support her with whatever she needs.
• Rika Ikeuchi: Rika is very young when the drama begins and when the drama ends, so she’s always seen as the cute youngest sister who always brings brightness to the house.

I think the main reasons why the show is so sad is because we start off observing Aya so young getting the disease, and in 5 years it becomes something completely different. At first, she tripped a lot and got hurt with the impact, but later on, she couldn’t even walk or move properly, and yet, it’s the same hopeful girl all the time. It’s a very moving aspect of the drama.

The Saddest Moments Of 1 Litre Of Tears

• Aya’s date turning her down without warning her because of her disease, and left her at the zoo under the rain.
• When Aya’s brother is ashamed of her disease and tries to hide her from his friends.
• When Aya’s classmates and friends turn down on her behind her back.
• Aya’s speech to her class.
• When Aya’s classmates sing her the song they were practicing together.
• When Aya breaks up with Haruto because she doesn’t want to keep him with her in these moments, when he should be living his youth.
• When Aya receives a bouquet from the bride at a wedding ceremony even though she’s on a wheelchair.
• When Aya asks her parents if she’ll ever get married.
• Aya’s Christmas presents for her siblings.
  • A new outfit for Ako because Aya only wore pajamas because of her disease and Ako usually inherited her own clothes from Aya, so she didn’t have many outfits to wear.
  • A new sports bag for Hiroki because he couldn’t have a fancy one because of the money that was being spent on care for Aya.
  • A new set of markers for Rika because Rika was struggling to color with the old ones because they were running out and she was unable to buy more because of Aya’s treatments.
• Aya’s death (+ the whole episode 11).

[Spoilers End Here]

I think the show is so beautiful and heart-touching, and everyone should give it a shot, because it’s certainly something special and very inspiring. There’s a reason why the drama is called 1 Litre Of Tears, and it’s not only because Aya’s diary has the same title.

It’s amazing, and I couldn’t help but cry like two liters of tears on the last couple of episodes. I recommend it to everyone!

Final Score:

100 / A

Download [Kioku Fansubs]

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Filed under ERIKA · Tagged with Dorama, ERIKA, Erika Sawajiri, J-Pop, Television