Aya Kitō was a Japanese diarist. She wrote about her personal experiences living with spinocerebellar ataxia which was later published in the book 1 Litre no Namida. The book has been translated into many languages and millions of copies are said to have been read around the world, and has also been made into a 2004 film and a 2005 television drama series from Fuji TV in which Erika Sawajiri portrayed Kitō.
Don't cry, you crybaby! When you think things are hard, that's the time you are maturing as a person. If you get over the darkness, a wonderful new day will come. The bright morning will be filled with light and the birds will be singing . There'll be white roses with a lovely fragrance.
A handicapped person is a human being with the same heart as anyone else. It's not a misfortune if you can't hear-it's just an inconvenience.
I want to be like the air. The good-hearted person whose kindness overflows and people realize how important she was to them, once she is gone. I want to be that kind of person.
People shouldn't dwell on the past. It's enough to try your best in all that you're doing now.
Death is not fearful. What's fearful is giving up.
There's a pigeon's nest on the branch of the tree outside the window. A chick is growing up in it. I'm happy about that
Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing.
I put my hand on my chest. I can feel my heart beating. My heart is working. I'm pleased. I'm still alive.
I understood that menstruation - the indication that you're a real woman - stopped if you grew weak from illness
Each person has unspeakable distress. When I remember the past, annoying, I cry; The reality of today is too cruel, too severe, and doesn't even offer me a dream; Imagining the future brings me yet another kind of tears
Gather up your fighting spirit or the disease will deafeat you!
But I'm a patient, so I have to focus on recuperation
Don't worry, even if you fall over! It's all right. You can just pick yourself up again!
When you fall over, make the most of the chance to look up and see the sky.
You will see the blue sky spreading endlessly above you and smiling down.
Aya, you are alive!
As I think about the future the tears will come out again.
I really don't want to say things such as 'I want to go back as how things were before.' I recognize how I am right now, and I will continue to live on.
If you look up at the sky after falling down the blue sky is also today stretching limitlessly and smiles at me... I'm alive.
People often say that the beginning of the rainy season is a bad time for sick people