Fan reviews: Ichi Ritoru no Namida

Limes · 19 Mar 2008

Good, but not the best, in my opinion. Firstly - some elements of the storyline I find annoying - the constant eavesdropping on conversations to find out things (one episode had particularly many instances of it); the whole 'being there by coincidence' thing (and coincidentally then eavesdropping); Japan's apparent abundance of suffers of this rare disease; and the hospital scenarios which weren't really very realistic (I work in a hospital).

But someone has told me not to be so realistic. This, after all, is a dramatization.

Sawajiri Erika was astouding as the disabled Aya. It must have been both physically and mentally exhausting to play such a character, and she pulled it off marvelously. Nishikido Ryou, however, was a disappointment. Having watched him in other dramas, all I can say is that he can only project several emotions on his otherwise impassive face - smiley, sulky and teary. I loved Yakushimaru Hiroko's portrayal of the strong, positive, loving mother.

The character that appealed to me the most was Narumi Riko's Ako, but unfortunately the character's growth was stunted towards the end, as were the development of all the other characters apart from Aya. I felt that there could have been more done about the family, who were the key supporters to Aya. (They didn't even visit the grave with their parents at the end of episode 11. How dare they.)

The soundtrack is a great one to listen to; I do believe it's shot Remioromen to fame with Konayuki and Sangatsu Kokonoka.

I rate this an 8 mostly because I have several issues with the story and with Nishikido's acting, but I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good tearjerker.

Rokugatsu Ken · 12 Mar 2008

Y.Y

konkon · 19 Feb 2008

I've been a fan of japanese drama for quite a long time...but there is a time when im too busy...and just dont have time to watch anymore...
but last year(after so many years outdated from my japanese heartthrob) i watch this drama....my eyes was swollen sooo badly...and the next day i cant go to class...huhuhuu....right now i still watch it over and over again...and still crying it out loud when watching...i just need to watch it...urmmm...addicted!!!!
this drama is too great...far tooo great...when i watch another drama i have to compare with this....
after this drama i become a big fan of ryo nishikido..i guess he's so cool in this drama...erika was very good too...so is the other cast...i guess i have to wait for a long time for my heart to accept other drama this well again...

suomi90 · 9 Feb 2008

I liked the actors and actresses... the family was like a real family!
the guy was a bit too...mature I think, but better that way :)

tinx3 · 20 Jan 2008

I cried so much that my nose started bleeding. LOL. Wonderful cast and a great story.. very inspiring. Two thumbs up!

FallenFantasist · 15 Jan 2008

this drama was amazing! it was such a touching story! i cried in every episode!

akibakenji · 15 Jan 2008

The fact that this drama is based on a true story made it that much more meaningful. It was painful to see one of my favorite idols act the part, since everything felt so 'real'. This is what I liked the most about the drama-- it's not like your typical drama where there are cheesy jokes and cliché plot twists all around. Everything from the character interaction to the acting felt real to me. I almost felt like I was right beside Aya, and felt the pain she was going through every episode.

Now I'm going to warn you; this drama does not have a happy ending. It's very painful to watch at times (in fact, it's probably the saddest drama I've ever seen), because you really feel Aya's pain. I'm not afraid to admit that I cried my eyes out during the last few episodes. I think every episode made me teary eyed. I'm usually not one to cry during a drama or a movie...hell; I can watch Titanic with a straight face.

I'm glad to have seen a drama like this, because you take a lot of things from it. For one, I've began to appreciate my life a lot more. Even the little things such as walking, being able to talk, having a healthy family and friends. I am now more grateful of everything that I have in my life. I think this drama is a must watch for anyone. There's just so much to take from it...and we can all feel Aya's pain. This girl was a truly a remarkable person; and seeing her stay strong gives me motivation to live on, even during the hardest of times. I feel that it's a necessity to tell everyone about this drama, because it was life altering for me. I now wake up every morning, thankful for being alive, and for being able to have all the simple things in life.

Watch it, live it, spread the word.

Greyhorse · 11 Jan 2008

But I'll try anyway.

The impact this drama had on me was something I never thought possible. I had a lump in my throat for pretty much the whole duration and cried several times. ( ...and I'm a guy by the way ). No other drama, movie or any form of fiction ( even if based on reality ) has made me think like this one has. It made me feel like I'm wasting so much time of my life for nothing. It made me feel like I should try to live life to the fullest at every moment. It makes me feel horrible to think I've been given so much time and I'm wasting it, while others are given so little. It makes me think of all the chances I've been given that I've passed on, when others never get the chances. This drama made me feel more in the course of the few days I watched it than I've felt the last couple of years combined.

This drama belongs to the number 1 spot. However much I enjoyed GTO, it has nothing on Ichi Rittoru no Namida. My worry now is; is there anything left for me to see - no, to _feel_ - after this masterpiece as far as dramas go?

FallenFantasist · 28 Dec 2007

This drama was very touching. it made me change my view on things. i probably cried about 1 liter of tears while watching this drama. this is the first drama that made me cry so badly and thats a good thing. :) i hope i can find more dramas like this one!

hilmifaiz24 · 10 Nov 2007

superb .......i think i'm crying

sw33t_laydee · 2 Nov 2007

I cried in almost every episode...so touching and inspiring.

ricky1 · 31 Oct 2007

This jdrama is one of my very first Jdrama collection. Since i watch this i truly fell in love with jdrama. i will just say it, no other dramas are better from JDORAMA!!!! this story about a girl with very limited physical capabilites due to sickness is very good expressed by the actress. You will not cry out of sympathy. Yet you will cry because how the main character sees her world is better than we usually do! Every weeks, its getting better, the sacrifices that she made so that she and her closest family and friend can live happier. I fell in love with aya chan character in the first sight... it is very good expressed by sawajiri erika, 5 star for your acting!! in fact, i rarely seen drama performs the same as this one. even the next drama by sawajiri erika (Taiyou no uta) is not comparable with this one..

ricky1 · 31 Oct 2007

Really good drama. this is one of my first j drama!!! but until now, i could not say any other drama performs better than this one. i have now watched more than 25 titles. If u don't like a sad drama, this is not for you. but through out the movie it is not the sickness that makes this drama sad so you would not cry because of sympathy. Yet you will cry because of the main character's willing to live and how she sees the world with her weakness. I just felt i am nothing stronger than this character even though she has physical limitation. After saw this drama i believe you can just appreciate your life more!!! I fell in love with aya chan character on the first sight. One of the best character in drama i have seen so far.

koala_bry · 11 Oct 2007

probably the best jdorama that i've seen yet!! sawajiri erika is really a great actress!! she's one of my fav too!! erika-chan wa KAWAII desu ne. can watch this dorama over and over again and still..cry like a baby!! n______n still is the best dorama around!! after all the other dorama that i've seen..this is the most touching dorama ever..and i really do mean EVER!! n__n a must see for everyone!! just make sure you have tissues beside you coz you're going to need it..a lot of tissues!! lool n___n

ryuuseigun · 27 Sep 2007

the one drama where i cried the most..heart warming inspirational and sad..first time i noticed the beauty of erika sawajiri..i love it!

alexad · 20 Sep 2007

This is one my favorite dramas. I cried so much especially during the final episodes. I recommend this to everyone. This will truly touch your hearts and it is a very inspiring story especially because it is based on a true story. The main female lead was really strong here and was able to portray her character well. Also, the actor who played Haruto was really good at acting.

alyaa azhar · 3 Jul 2007

this is my favorite drama...it beat kimutaku"s beautiful life..i cried every episodes after aya learned bout her disease..the special drama is good too..i cried 2gether with ryo after he called aya..

mirai2 · 27 Jun 2007

Extremely sad, but very very good at the same time. This dorama makes you appreciate life. Superb acting by Erika and Ryo. I recommend this dorama to anyone who hasn't seen it.

aznanimedude · 25 Jun 2007

my my my where do i even begin to describe this drama? i was first introduced to this drama about a year ago. in that time, i have watched and rewatched this drama too many times to count. yet each time, the experience is just as bone chilling as the first time i ever watched it. even now, watching it i can't keep from crying. the hallmark of a good drama, the yardstick by which it is measured is not the initial viewer ratings, for which these were quite good. no, the measure of a drama is what it leaves you with, whether a month, a year from now, it still affects you, it still refuses to leave your mind, you still look back and think "damn". if a drama manages to grip you, to take you into the story, to cause you to connect to the characters, to ride the waves both up and down, to grive when they grieve, rejoice and celebrate with them, to share in their joys and memories, when you connect to teh character to the point that anything that happens to them, it feels like it happens to you, that is when you know you have found something special. and readers i can tell you, this is something special. no matter how rock hard or ice cold your heart is, there is not a single person i have ever told about this drama who has not left it without shedding a single tear, feeling even the littlest bit of sympathy for a girl who had such an unfortunate series of events. NOT ONE. even a year after watching it, having watched and rewatched it, it still has not gotten old or boring for me, it is as if each time i am viewing it for the first time. such a beautiful blend of music, swelling and retracting at the perfect times to correspond with the scene, it is something that cannot be translated into words no matter how i may try. this drama has truly been a life changing experience for me, taught me to learn and appreciate the value of life, the price of dreaming, the courage to live life as if there is no tomorrow, to accept both the good and the bad that may come our way. but even then, i still have not enough words to say about this series, and what it encompasses and represents.
i leave with this word, you may be doubting whether or not this series is good, whether it is worth your time. i can honestly say that before this series i was not an avid drama fan, i was not into romances, dramatic plots, but this changed my view, caused me to appreciate the finer arts of acting, performing, it changed my outlook on life. this is no ordinary simple love filled drama, so if that is what you seek then this is not for you. but if you seek something that will change you, cause you to rethink and leave you with a lasting impression, i can honestly say you will not be disappointed.

Kotanus · 24 Jun 2007

this simply the most amazing drama i have ever seen in my short 16 year of life! its so sad and it really made me cry in almost every episode even though im a guy... also made me cry before i went to bed after watching the whole thing thinking that "what if something like that happened to me or someone precious to me?" couldnt sleep for like an hour =(