Mayuko Wakamori

Five-year-old Masako gets a scratch on her finger. After that, she begins to suffer horrible spasms. The doctor checks on her and concludes that she has tetanus. Her parents have to bear the sufferings of their child. The once peaceful family has changed completely.

Fictionalized account of 20-year-old Noriko Tsuji, a real-life victim of a severe birth defect which afflicted 8,000 Japanese, children whose mothers took the sedative thalidomide during pregnancy. Tsuji has stunted flipper-like arms amputated at the behest of a father who deserted her soon after her birth. Nonetheless, the resourceful Noriko uses her feet to accomplish most of the tasks others would do with their hands.