1 Litre of Tears

Based on the poignant real-life diary of Aya Kito, published shortly before her passing, this manga adaptation chronicles the deeply personal journey of a young girl navigating adolescence while battling a relentless degenerative disease. Told entirely from her perspective, the narrative captures not only her daily activities but also the profound emotional weight and physical hardships she must endure as her condition worsens. What began as a simple method to document how the illness was altering her everyday routine gradually transformed into something far more vital. As the disease progressed, the diary became Kito’s essential lifeline—a space to articulate the intense struggles of coping, adapting, and fighting for survival against an unforgiving fate. Her entries reflect a heartbreaking yet resilient spirit, capturing the raw reality of a teenager forced to confront mortality far too soon. In one defining reflection, she reveals the core purpose behind her words: "I write because writing is evidence that I am still alive."