This Is Noriko

Story

Synopsis

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.

Director

Zenzō Matsuyama

Writers

Zenzō Matsuyama

Language

Japanese

Country

Japan

Release date

12 September 1981

Ensemble

Cast

• Noriko Tsuji

  Noriko Matsubara

• 

  Misako Watanabe

  Harue Matsubara

• 

  Fumie Kashiyama

• 

  Hajime Izu

• 

  Mizuho Suzuki

• Mayuko Wakamori

  Noriko as a girl

• Shozo Inagaki

• 

  Masami Shimojō

• 

  Mitsue Suzuki

• 

  Kan Mikami

• 

  Chōichirō Kawarasaki

• 

  Hiroyuki Nagato

  Harue's husband