1 Litre no Namida (2005)

This is a total master piece, why? simply because even you don't want to cry, you will not help yourself but to just CRY AND CRY AND CRY,. this a total master piece in a sense that it really tackles the story of life, the ups and downs of journeys, Love life, Hope, trust, and all the virtues that you need to survive in what we called LIFE, I was so inspired by this drama to write again and publish all my works, even though I am just an Amateur writer and the one who appreciate my works are y friends and relatives, I didn't loose hope, when I saw this drama. This drama was so heart felting, you will not notice that your tears are falling from your two innocent eyes, you will not notice that you are laughing at the same time crying and you will not notice that you fall deeper to the characters without knowing..
This a very inspirational drama that every one should watch. Be INSPIRED, Get a Power, and let us all be REALISTIC...
The basic story that they gave and also the real life scenario was so touching.. I wish I met a girl like her in my life so that by now I was doing the good things and appreciate what I have today!!

Leggi di Più

Sometimes dramas can be overrated and I’ll be frank;
I had my doubts about this one.

The series has been sitting on my list for awhile and I’m glad that I finally got round to watching it as this was easily one of the more well- deserving contenders for the tearjerker category ever.

The acting was phenomenal and I really felt as though the character were oozing out their sorrow through the screen. ( Especially the female lead.)

I’ll be honest on one thing. The camera angles and filming maybe hasn’t aged too well but the overall themes are definitely timeless. A definite watch.

Leggi di Più

This drama was amazing!!!

Story: 10/10 because in dramaland, a lot of times they write fiction stories, but these writer(s) decided to take an inspirational true story & turned it in to a drama.

Acting: 10/10 because this introduced me to Nishikido Ryo, Erika & Naohito. The actors & actresses in this drama was chosen well.

Music: 8/10 because I don't really remember to songs too well. . .

Reawtch value: 5/10 because this made me cry so much, almost every episode I start crying somewhere in this series. I only watched it twice, but it was hard to watch a second time.

Overall, I think it's a great drama to watch 1 time, but not more than once.

Leggi di Più

This is the highest rating I've given for any drama or movie I've seen. It is almost too rude to say how great a job Sawajiri Erika did in acting in this heartbreaking, heartwrenching, beautiful, touching drama. It really opens your eyes as to the poor families and victims of this most terrible and cruel disease. Have your box of tissues ready because in every single episode, it really breaks your heart to see the emotional pain alone that she goes through.

As much as it was a very sad story, there was a balance of comedy in it to put a smile on your face at times from her father. The music was very well done, I don't think they could have done better than what they did in this drama.

I really needed to watch something to help soften my heart and this drama did just the trick to soften a bitter and jaded heart. I honestly believe this drama would soften the most cold hearted, hard heart out there.

It was a real masterpiece of a drama, if I could give a higher than 10 rating, it would get it astoundingly. A must watch for sure...

Leggi di Più

I started watching this drama with very high expectations, and it has met all of them. The story is beautiful, and more believable than I expected (although there were a few corny moments). I loved the story so much that I'm going to read the book it is based on.
The acting was SPECTACULAR. Everyone was really good, but Erika Sawajiri's performance is, in my opinion, the best one. She was incredible in the last few episodes.
The music was very good, too, especially the insert songs.
Someday I will watch it again, becauste I think it's a masterpiece.
I recommend 1 Litre of Tears to everyone who is looking for a beautiful story, with great characters and fantastic acting :)
P.S. You'll probably cry while watching it ;)

Leggi di Più

Well, what can I say? Ichi Rittoru no Namida was my very first asian drama, the one who introduced me into this whole amazing new world of dramaland. I can't even believe how many years passed since. So, I confess I'm being totally biased when I say that this is the best thing ever. Or maybe I'm not being that biased since it's all true.

What I'm trying to say is: don't trust me. Trust the other amazing reviews this drama has. Well, the 9.1 score can't be for nothing, do you agree?

But, let me say this at least: the name of this drama isn't One Litre Of Tears for nothing. You really will cry a life worth of tears, but I can guarantee you that, in the end, you'll be thankful and say that it was totally worth it.

To me, this is a drama that should be widely known through out the entire world. This should be like, I don't know, Titanic or other one of those things that have been watched by most people. Everyone, not only dramaland people, should watch this at least once in their lifes, that is what I think.

Because, by the end of the drama, you'll find yourself wanting to be a better person. You'll want to live your life differently, to never commit the mistake of taking things for granted ever again. This isn't just a drama. It's a punch in the stomach. You'll look at yourself and realize what an ass you are. And you'll want to change for the better.

You'll try to do it. For a few hours, days or weeks. And then you'll probably reverse back to who you were before, as you'll gradually forget the things Aya tried to teach you. Years will pass by in a blink of a eye.

But when you watch this again, it'll will be like the first time. The rewatch value of this isn't 10, is infinity. I'll definetely introduce this to the people I care about, even to my future husband and children. This is just too precious to let it be forgotten by time.

Even the OST is unforgetable. Remioromen's Konayuki and Sangatsu no Kokonoka and Kei's Only Human are just too gorgeous. Forever present in my ipod.

Leggi di Più

I avoided this drama, I was sure I wasn't going to watch this ever. Why? Because for some years I was in a similar health-situation. I don't want to elaborate this, but let's say, I am in a position to judge this from a real-life point-of-view.

And I really loved this drama. I wonder what person wouldn't appreciate such a sad but beautiful story, especially knowing, that it is based on a real person. I didn't cry at all (maybe because of my experience), but I was really moved, especially at the end of each episode where we are shown pictures of the real Aya and excerpts from her diary - these sentences are so real, so important, so dramatic, so beautiful - it really is, what you feel and think when you are in such a situation, and thus Aya helped even me just by watching this.

About the story: Well, you know she will get sick, it will get worse and eventully she will die. So what is there to gain from this story? First, the setting: You have a quite realistic take on how the patient and her family and friends react. The actors did a great job here. Nothing was over the top (proving that J-drama can be "normal", too). The story progresses steadily and surprisingly with a good pace, that does never bore you, nor does it dive into huge melodrama. Aya's courage and her relationships carry this beautifully.

And about the love story: Other than the real Aya, drama-Aya was so fortunate to have this amazing class-mate, who knows what loyalty is. The male lead was my favourite actor, I just loved his performance.

Of course, drama Aya was depicted in a more collected and beautiful way than it happened in real life. When this desease progresses, your face becomes distorted, too and nothing is as "sleeping beauty" like as it was shown here at the end. However, it is okay, since this is a blurred improved version of sickness, that protects viewers.

What can I say at the end? I am glad I watched this. Throughout this drama I will remeber the real Aya and when I think about my own sickness, I will remember her couragious way of living.
Thank you, Aya.

Leggi di Più

I read some reviews; most of them said that "they cried a litre of tears" while watching this dorama. Now, I love to cry when I read/watch inspiring/touching story, but I don't do it necessarily all the time. So I doubted I was going to with this dorama, with all the hype. And it turned out the title is not misleading at all. There was a constant runny nose during the whole 45minutes, especially around episode 5. This dorama is beautiful, touching, sweet, and everything that is positive. Sawajiri Erica is a wonderful actress (I only heard about her after "her scandal"). She has a beautiful smile, and when she cries, you will cry. In spite of her terrible disease, she smiles to encourage herself and her family. I was so mad and sad in the episode where she talks to her classmates... I dare anyone not to cry in this one.

At first I was not impressed with Ryo; he seemed to sullen and with one expression only. Besides, I've read his character was made-up; he did not exist in the real Aya's life. But eventually, I warmed towards him, and the few times he cried, it was impossible not to be moved; by his tears (my, one tear after another; he can really cry) and by this doomed love. Honestly, most of the times, I am never moved by doomed loves, but it was an exception with Aya and Asou-kun. Every time they were together I was thinking "why? why can't they be happy?".

My favorites actresses were (besides Sawajiri Erika, of course) Yakushimaru Hiroko as the mother and Narumi Riko as Ako, the sister. Poor mother, she has to face this disease with a encouraging smile for her daughter, and she had to gave in many things. I can't imagine her pain. She was the first to notice that her daughter had a problem, she was the first to know the terrible truth, and she had to stand up in school against selfish parents.

As for Ako, who is a tsundere, was a supportive younger sister, and the episode where she talks to her brother (who was ashamed to have a disabled sister) was beyond moving (I had a big lump in my throat... to be honest, that lump did not go away for the entire 11 episodes).

I love this story. I love the soundtrack (all songs, including the one that the students sing twice). Each episode ended with the words of the real Aya, taken out from her diary, + pictures of her in school, in bed, in her wheelchair; with her family, friends...

Highly recommended. And be prepared to shed multiple tears.

Leggi di Più

It's undoubtedly the best Asian drama I've seen (alongside Algernon Ni Hanataba). The story line is extremely sensitive, subtle and profound. Every episode is completely fulfilled, without unnecessary elements and without this usual feeling of intentionally prolonging the series. Also I love the atmosphere: rainy and green, provided with delicate sensation of nature as a shelter for a human soul. Even the soundtrack suits the drama perfectly. All the main characters are incredible: Nishikido Ryo, Erika Sawajiri and Fujiki Naohito are capable to transmit the pain with an absolute and touching credibility. Furthermore, it's impossible to stop crying while you watch it, even, if you aren't extremely sensitive. I've watched this drama numerous occasions and I think I will continue this tradition.

Leggi di Più