1 Litre no Namida
1 Litre no Namida (1リットルの涙, Ichi Rittoru no Namida, lit. "1 Litre of Tears"; also called A Diary with Tears or A Diary of Tears) is a dramatic tragedy diary written by Aya Kitō (木藤亜也, Kitō Aya, July 19, 1962 - May 23, 1988) published shortly before her death. The diary, a true story based on her own life, was originally written in first person. It is about a girl coping with her teenage life along with a degenerative disease. She keeps a diary of not only what she does but how she feels and the hardships she must endure. Initially, the diary's purpose was for Kitō to chronicle impressions she had about how the disease was affecting her daily life. As the disease progressed, however, the diary became Kitō's outlet for describing the intense personal struggles she underwent in coping, adapting, and ultimately trying to survive her disease. As she notes in one entry, "I write because writing is evidence that I am still alive."
 Original book of One Litre of Tears | |
| Author | Aya Kitō |
|---|---|
| Original title | 1リットルの涙 |
| Translator | Ichi Rittoru no Namida |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre | Non-fiction novel |
| Publisher | Gentosha Inc. |
Publication date | Japan: February 25, 1986 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 270 pp |
| ISBN | 978-4-344-40610-0 (Japan) ISBN 978-4-89684-495-5 (USA) |
Plot summary
Aya Kitō was diagnosed with a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration when she was 15 years old. The disease causes the person to lose control over their body, but because the person can retain all mental ability the disease acts as a prison. So in the end she cannot eat, walk or talk.
Through family, medical examinations and rehabilitations, and finally succumbing to the disease, Aya must cope with the disease and live on with life until her death at the age of 25.
Adaptations
Film
A Japanese film adaptation, A Litre of Tears, starring Asae Ōnishi, was released in nationwide theaters in 2005.
TV series
A television adaptation of the same name loosely based on the book aired on Fuji TV in 2005, starring Erika Sawajiri as Aya.