This has got to be the saddest show I’ve ever seen. This Japanese show is called １リットルの涙 (Ichi Rittoru no Namida, 1 Liter of Tears).

The official translated Fuji TV description of the show:

This beautifully moving drama is based on the real-life struggles of a 15-year-old girl named Aya who suffered from an incurable disease, but lived life to the fullest until her death at 25. The script is based on the diary Aya kept writing until she could no longer hold a pen. The book that later followed entitled “One Litre of Tears” has sold over 1.1 million copies in Japan alone.

Aya’s only wish was “to live.” By carefully depicting Aya’s earnest desire to live, and the love of her family, friends, and lover, the drama, “One Litre of Tears” wishes to deliver her simple but strong message: “Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing.”

— Fuji TV

A synopsis at d-addicts reads:

15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya was an ordinary girl, the daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop, and a soon-to-be high schooler. However, odd things have been happening to Aya lately. She has been falling down often and walks strange. Her mother, Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor, and he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration – a terrible disease where the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. A cruel disease, as it does not affect the mind in the least. How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?

— D-Addicts Synopsis

The show is a true story, although updated for modern times (the real girl was born in the 60’s and died in 1988). She begins by just stumbling while she’s walking, then completely falling… unable to control movment. The inevitable end to this disease is the inability to walk, talk, or control any body movments. The disease doesn’t affect the mind though, so this isn’t similar to a mental handicap. She will know full-well what is going on around her, etc.

1 Liter of Tears is certainly an appropriate title.

You can download these from JPopSuki if you have bittorrent. Or, you can find them on YouTube.

The series is 11 episodes long, although the ones you find on youtube are cut down into smaller sections. I definitely recomend this, even if you’re not a fan of international television.