Gazing at Love and Death: 154 Love Letters Blooming at the Edge of Life

Author: (Japanese) Daisho Michiko, Kono Shizuka
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "Every time I talk with you, I remember your gentle eyes. The tearful, hazy look you had before you returned to Tokyo last October was so beautiful. I really want to see your eyes again." "When I look into your gentle eyes again, I will surely tremble, I'm sure of it." This is the heartfelt confession of the young and handsome Kono to his beloved Michiko. It also takes us into a love story that defies life and death.
Kono, a high school repeater, gets hospitalized due to illness and meets the cheerful and lovely girl Michiko. They fall in love at first sight and deeply cherish each other. Due to being separated by distance, they express their profound longing through letters. Michiko suffers from chondromatosis, and the devoted Kono visits her repeatedly to support her through surgery, miraculously prolonging her life. Three years later, Michiko passes away due to the worsening of her illness at the age of 21.
This book selects 154 passionate love letters exchanged between them over the three years of their love, vividly portraying their mutual encouragement, comfort, and pure love, as well as the conflicts, pains, and struggles between hope and despair. Especially Michiko's extraordinary courage in fighting the disease and her precious quality of cherishing life deeply inspire countless young people.
After its publication in Japan, the book sold over 1.3 million copies, hailed as the origin of pure love literature in Japan. The ultimate love story between the protagonists between life and death moved the entire nation to tears. Tokyo Television adapted their life-and-death romance into a drama series, and the same-named film was passionately performed by Japan's leading actress Yoshino Kiyoko and Hirofumi Hamada, creating a box office phenomenon in its time.