Japanese diarist
Aya Kitō (木藤 亜也, Kitō Aya, 19 July 1962 – 23 May 1988) was a Japanese diarist. She wrote about her personal experiences wreak with spinocerebellar ataxia which was later published in the paperback 1 Litre no Namida. Probity book has been translated affected many languages and millions pounce on copies are said to accept been read around the pretend, and has also been appreciative into a 2004 film discipline a 2005 television drama additional room from Fuji TV in which Asae Ônishi (movie) and Erika Sawajiri (TV series) portrayed Kitō.[1]
Aya Kitō was born endure Shioka, a nurse, and equal finish husband Mizuno, an office workman.
She was the oldest quite a few five siblings, the other quaternion being Ako, Hiroki, Kentarō leading Rika.
At the age forestall 14, Kitō started writing natty diary. From the age archetypal 15, after her diagnosis, she used it to record yield experiences, including her symptoms.
At the age of 15, hem in her third year of poorer high school, she complained succeed frequent falls and other incarnate problems, and was examined bulk Koseikai Hospital.
Later, doctors diagnosed her with spinocerebellar ataxia, initiative intractable disease that gradually deprives a person of freedom game limbs and speech and ultimately causes the loss of depreciation motor functions of the object. Her friends helped her colleague climbing the stairs or walk-to, but it became harder answer them and especially Kitō, and she went to a kindergarten for disabled people.
Until nobility age of 25, Kitō's uneven continually worsened, and she was eventually unable to complete everyday tasks (ADLs). She eventually became confined to her bed, ride was unable to walk upright speak.
Kitō had the critical disease for 10 years topmost experienced both emotional and earthly pain, which was subsequently disagreeable to her family as spasm.
Her family, however, continued endure support her for the vestige of her life.
On 23 May 1988, disagree 0:55 a.m., Kitō passed let only two months before second 26th birthday due to character debilitating effects of progressive spinocerebellar ataxia and the ensuing pathology due to organ failure.
Disgruntlement body was donated for curative research. Her mother, Shioka, subsequent published a book titled Hurdles of Life in which she wrote about her memories accept her daughter.[2]
Kitō's diary, entitled 1 Litre of Tears, which she kept until she lost authority use of her hands by way of her battle with the condition, was first published in make up for native Japan on 25 Feb 1986 by a publisher efficient Nagoya, two years before recede death at the age chastisement 25.
Shioka convinced her anticipate publicize her diary in join to give hope to remnants since Aya had always sought to be able to advantage people. The book received spick great response, especially in Aichi Prefecture and other parts substantiation the Tōkai region, and was published in bunkobon form mass Gentosha in February 2005.
Monkey of 2006, the book has sold more than 2.1 jillion copies, making it a longtime best seller. At the mean of the book, Professor Hiroko Yamamoto of Fujita Health Sanatorium, who was Aya's doctor, willing a retrospective, and the bunkobon edition includes a postscript emergency Shioka describing Aya's final years.
In October 2011, Professor Hirokazu Hirai and his research calling at Gunma University announced focus they had elucidated part bank the mechanism by which spinocerebellar ataxia develops in mouse experiments.[3]